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Ganga Mahotsav -
Fairs and Festivals in
India
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Ganga Mahotsav is a
cultural festival that is specific to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The
festival celebrates the various facets of this holy river. The Ganges
is a symbol of religious purity and is one of the five important
rivers of India. Ganga Mahotsav is celebrated over a 5 day period on
the banks of the river Ganga and also promotes the city of Varanasi as
the cultural capital of India.
The festival is a platform to promote the culture and tradition of
Varanasi which is known for its dance and music, arts, silk, carpet
industries and handicrafts. The festival is like a cultural program
promoting all forms of Indian dance and music.
Ganges has always been the not only the lifeline of India but also the
felicitator and nourishment of the Indian Civilization. The river
Ganges, though, considered a thing of reverence by the Hindus has in
the course of history defined the psyche of the Indian society as a
whole, irrespective of religion. It not only nourishes the population
that lives by its kingdom but also give them a sense of separate
identity and belonging. To mark this contribution of River Ganges, an
annual festival is organized that has been christened 'Ganga Mahotsava'.
Traditions And Celebrations
The mystic ghats of the Ganges in Varanasi and other cities attract
thousands of people to it. On the day of Ganga Mahotsav devotees walk
to the banks of the Ganges in the early hours of the morning to take a
dip in the river while chanting prayers. Both men and women carry out
this ritual. Most people especially the sadhus then perform the �Surya
Namaskar�. Thereafter at dusk amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras,
diyas or earthen lamps are lit and placed on lotus leaves and floated
in the water to welcome the Gods. The floating diyas make the river
glow with a soft orange hue against the black dark night sky.The Ganga
Mahotsav helps in promoting Indian music and dance in a big way. Some
of India�s famous personalities including Ustad Bismillah Khan, Girija
Devi, Birju Maharaj, Amjad Ali Khan, Bal Murli Krishnan and Zakir
Hussain have performed in Varanasi during the festival.Festival also
includes activities like boat races and display of marital arts.
The banks of the River Ganges at Varanasi transform during the Ganga
Mahotsava as thousands of Hindu pilgrims dip themselves and their oil
lamps into the sacred waters.
The festival is one of the most spectacular that take place along the
ghats (steps down to the river) during the year. It celebrates (among
other things) the timeless glory of the River Ganges, which provides a
living for millions who grow rice on its neighbouring plains. Several
thousand Hindu pilgrims come to the water's edge during the day - each
one carrying an oil lamp which they float on the surface. |
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