Ganga Dussehra 2008
The descent of the Ganga — snan and daan on Jyeshtha Shukla Dashami.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankalp (sunrise)05:07
- Sunset18:49
- Fasting window (tithi)2008-06-12 · 10:03 → 11:42
- Parana (tithi ends)11:42
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Ganga Dussehra puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaGanga Dussehra — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Ganga Dussehra?
On the Shukla Dashami of Jyeshtha, in the peak of summer just before the monsoon. It usually falls a day before Nirjala Ekadashi. This year's date is shown above.
Why is it called Dussehra?
From dasha-hara — 'the remover of ten' — because a bath in the Ganga on this day is held to wash away ten kinds of sin (three of the body, four of speech, three of the mind). It is unrelated to the autumn Dussehra of Vijayadashami.
Why is everything offered in tens?
For the ten sins the Ganga carries away: ten dips, ten lamps, ten flowers and ten of each offering are made, and dana of ten items is given.
What if I cannot reach the Ganga?
A bath in any sacred river or, failing that, adding Ganga-jal to the home bath water and worshipping the river with remembrance is accepted; the tradition holds even the remembrance of Ganga to be purifying.
Other major festivals in 2008
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2008
- Vasant Panchami — 11 February 2008
- Maha Shivaratri — 6 March 2008
- Holika Dahan — 21 March 2008
- Holi — 22 March 2008
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 7 April 2008
- Ram Navami — 13 April 2008
- Akshaya Tritiya — 7 May 2008
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 4 July 2008
- Guru Purnima — 18 July 2008
- Nag Panchami — 6 August 2008
- Raksha Bandhan — 16 August 2008
- Krishna Janmashtami — 23 August 2008
- Hartalika Teej — 2 September 2008
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 3 September 2008
- Anant Chaturdashi — 14 September 2008
- Pitru Paksha begins — 16 September 2008
- Sharad Navratri begins — 30 September 2008
- Durga Ashtami — 7 October 2008
- Maha Navami — 8 October 2008
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 9 October 2008
- Karwa Chauth — 17 October 2008
- Dhanteras — 26 October 2008
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 27 October 2008
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 28 October 2008
- Govardhan Puja — 29 October 2008
- Bhai Dooj — 31 October 2008
- Chhath Puja — 4 November 2008
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 13 November 2008
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 13 November 2008
- Hindu Festivals 2008 →