By Girish Kumar Dubey
The Hindu festival of Ganga Dussera dedicated to the River Ganga was celebrated with religious fervour at Varanasi, the temple city in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday (June 11).
Thousands of devotees and even tourists flocked at the various ghats (bathing locations) along the banks of River Ganga that passes through the city to take part in the religious rituals.
According to Hindu scriptures, the River Ganga descended to earth from heaven on this day, and the devotees believe taking a dip in its waters leads to freedom for the devotees from the cycle of rebirth and attaining salvation.
"Every living being has a relationship with the River Ganga. All the scriptures prove this fact that all creatures have their links with Ganga. And the Ganga Dussera festival is being observed here in the city of Kashi (Varanasi). It is a marvel in itself. All creatures will be blessed from this," said Pandit Devi Nandan Dwivedi, a priest.
A hallmark of the Ganga Dussera is the delightful sight of the priests performing Aarati (ceremonial lamp offering) soon after dusk hours.
Amid these religious rituals, many of the devotees expressed their concern over the polluted state of the Ganges.
"Everything is going on the resurrection of Ganga. All the programmes are going on not only at the national level but also on a global plane. There is a need to do the right things in the right directions so that Ganga can be protected," said Bhawani Nandan Yati, a Hindu monk.
Regarded as a celestial river originating in heaven, legend holds that the River Ganga was gifted to mankind in answer to the great penance undertaken by King Bhagirath, after whose daughter the river has been named.
The Hindu festival of Ganga Dussera dedicated to the River Ganga is celebrated with utmost religious fervour at Varanasi, the temple city in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (JUNE 11, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. DEVOTEES GATHERED FOR THE FESTIVAL OF GANGA DUSSERA, ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER GANGA
2. A GROUP OF PREISTS PERFORMING RITUALS IN THE RIVER
3. A PREIST POURING
4. FLOWERS FLOATING IN THE WATERS OF RIVER GANGA
5. A GROUP OF PREISTS POURING MILK INTO THE RIVER WATER
6. A GARLAND FLOATING ON THE WATER
7. PREISTS HOLDING CEREMONIAL LAMPS
8. A BANNER READING 'GANGA DUSSERA MAHOTSAV'
9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PANDIT DEVI NANDAN DWIVEDI, A PREIST, SAYING:
"Every living being has a relationship with the River Ganga. All the scriptures prove this fact that all creatures have their links with Ganga. And the Ganga Dussera festival is being observed here in the city of Kashi (Varanasi). It is a marvel in itself. All creatures will be blessed from this."
10. HUGE GATHERING OF DEVOTEES AND ALSO TOURISTS WATCHING THE GANGA DUSSERA FESTIVAL
11. A GROUP OF PREISTS BLOWING CONCHES
12. A BOY PLAYING A DRUM
13. A CROWD OF DOVOTEES SEATED
14. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) BHAWANI NANDAN YATI, A YOGI, SAYING:
"Everything is going on the resurrection of Ganga. All the programmes are going on not only at the national level but also on a global plane. There is a need to do the right things in the right directions so that Ganga can be protected."
15. PREISTS PERFORMING THE GANGA AARATI, THE CEREMONIAL HINDU OFFERING OF LAMPS TO DIVINITY
16. A PREIST OVVERING THE AARATI
17. A GROUP OF PRIESTS PERFORMING AARATI RITUAL
18. A MAN PLAYING A DRUM NEAR A PRESIT WITH A LAMP
19. PEOPLE SEATED NEAR PREISTS WITH LAMPS
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