Speaking to mediapersons on Wednesday (May 30) a priest, Mahant Brijmohan Das highlighted the importance of the festival.
"Today is the festive occasion of Ganga Dussehra. Today only, mother Ganga from the 'jata' (hairlocks) of Hindu Lord Shiva came down to earth. The Ganga flows in north direction in 'Kashi' (ancient name of Varanasi city). This is why, in Kashi, this day holds significance for the people. Those devotees, who took holy dip in Ganga River, will get rid from all the sins," said Das.
The priests were seen performing traditional Hindu rituals and chanted hymns on the banks of the river.
Women and girls offered prayers for the well being of their family.
"This festival holds importance for the people. It's a grand and fortunate 'aarti' (a religious ritual of worship). This 'aarti' holds significance for the girls," said a devotee, Meenakshi Upadhyay.
Earlier, thousands of devotees assembled at the prominent 'ghats' or banks since the crack of the dawn to take holy dip and seek the blessings of Ganga to get rid of their sins.
In addition to it, a social organisation called Ganga Sewa Nidhi organised an environment awareness programme with an aim to save River Ganga.
Legend holds that the Ganges was gifted to mankind in answer to the great penance undertaken by King Bhagirath, after whom she is also called Bhagirathi.
Bhagirath, a descendant of the legendry Sagara dynasty prayed for the Ganges to descend onto the parched earth.
River Ganga is the most sacred river to Hindus and is also the lifeline to millions of people who live along its course.
Thousands of devotees converge on the banks of River Ganga in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state to celebrate Ganga Dussehra, a festival to mark the inception of the sacred river Ganges on the earth.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (MAY 30, 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. GATHERING OF DEVOTEES ON THE BANK OF RIVER GANGA
2. PRIESTS PERFORMING 'AARTI' (A RELIGIOUS RITUAL OF WORSHIP)
3. A PRIEST PERFORMING AARTI
4. AARTI BEING PERFORMED
5. DEVOTEES SEEN AT THE BANK OF RIVER GANGA
6. AARTI BEING PERFORMED
7. LIGHTED LAMPS FLOATING IN THE RIVER
8. HINDU RITUALS BEING PERFORMED BY THE DEVOTEES
9. WOMEN SITTING AND OFFERING PRAYERS
10. DEVOTEES POURING MILK IN THE WATERS OF RIVER GANGA
11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A PRIEST, MAHANT BRIJMOHAN DAS, SAYING:
"Today is the festive occasion of Ganga Dussehra. Today only, mother Ganga from the 'jata' (hairlocks) of Hindu Lord Shiva came down to earth. The Ganga flows in north direction in 'Kashi' (ancient name of Varanasi city). This is why, in Kashi, this day holds significance for the people. Those devotees, who took holy dip in Ganga River, will get rid from all the sins."
11. A PRIEST PERFORMING A HINDU RITUAL IN FRONT OF THE IDOL Of HINDU GODDESS GANGA
12. PRIEST CLAPPING
13. IDOL OF GODDESS GANGA
14. GATHERING OF DEVOTEES
15. A PRIEST BLOWING A CONCH SHELL
16. PRIESTS BLOWING CONCH SHELLS
17. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) a DEVOTEE, MEENAKSHI UPADHYAY, SAYING:
"This festival holds importance for the people. It's a grand and fortunate 'aarti' (a religious ritual of worship). This 'aarti' holds significance for the girls."
18. UPADHYAY SITTING
19. PRIESTS PERFORMING RITUALS
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