Ganga Puja is a holy festival celebrated to honor Maa Ganga, the importance of her holy water, and to worship her as a divine being. This festival is celebrated in different ways by different regions of India. In Tripura state, “Ganga Puja” has developed as a unique tribal festival, while in other places this festival is celebrated as Ganga Saptami and Ganga Dussehra. Each festival shows different forms of Maa Ganga and her incarnation on earth.
Are Ganga Puja, Ganga Saptami and Ganga Dussehra the same Festival ?
No, these three festivals depict different events and significance apart from being related to Maa Ganga.
- Ganga Dussehra: This festival is celebrated to commemorate the incarnation of Maa Ganga from heaven to earth. This day is also called “Gangavataran,” when Ganga came to earth.
- Ganga Saptami: This day marks the event when Rishi Jahnu contained Ganga in his kamandal and then freed her, which resulted in the rebirth of Ganga.
- Ganga Pooja in Tripura: It is a widespread puja performed to worship Maa Ganga on various occasions, such as Ganga Saptami, Ganga Dussehra, or other local festivals.
Ganga Puja 2025
The festival known by the specific name “Ganga Puja” only represents the Ganga Puja of Tripura. It is celebrated with great devotion in that state. The purpose of this puja is to worship the goddess in the form of the Ganga River or any holy water so that prosperity, good crops, and protection are obtained. On this day people make a place of worship with bamboo on the banks of rivers or in small ponds near homes and worship Ganga Devi by making an idol or symbol. The goddess’ blessings are taken with flowers, incense, a lamp, and prasad.
But this puja is celebrated in different states of India in different ways, like Ganga Dussera or Ganga Saptami. Ganga Puja was celebrated by the people of Tripura state in April or May 2025. Ganga Saptami was celebrated on 7th May 2025 in different states of India and Ganga Dussera will be celebrated on 5th June in 2025.
Ganga Puja in Tripura: A folk tradition festival
Ganga Puja is a popular tribal festival in Tripura celebrated to pay respect to Maa Ganga and to pray for her protection. Its timing is between March and May every year, according to the Hindu lunisolar calendar, and the title changes with each year.
On this occasion people worship Mother Ganga in a bamboo pavilion built near a river or waterfall in which geese, goats, or buffaloes are sacrificed, and prayers are offered to Mother Ganga for freedom from diseases and protection of pregnant women. This festival represents the rich tribal traditions and religious faith of Tripura.
Ganga Puja Vidhi and Mantra
For this pooja, a bamboo pavilion is built in the middle of a river or waterfall. In this pavilion, Maa Ganga is worshipped. A cow, goat, or buffalo is sacrificed (according to folk tradition), and prayers are offered for freedom from diseases and protection of pregnant women.
- Ganga Snan: Bathing in the Ganga river in the morning or bathing with Ganga water is considered holy.
- Offering Arghya: Offering Arghya to Surya Dev with Ganga water.
- Shivling Abhishek: Abhishek of Shivling with Ganga water.
- Deep Daan: Deep Daan and Aarti at the Ganga Ghat in the evening.
- Chanting of mantras: Chanting “Om Namo Bhagavatyai Gangaye Namah”.
Importance of Ganga Puja
- Purity and purification: Bathing with Ganga water purifies the body and soul.
- Punya and Moksha: Punya and Moksha are attained by seeing and worshipping Maa Ganga.
- Cure-Seeckness: In Tripura, prayers are offered for Rog-Mukti and peace from Maa Ganga.
Main places of Ganga Puja
- Haridwar: There is a grand Ganga aarti on every Pauri.
- Varanasi: There is an interesting aarti and deep daan at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
- Prayagraj: There is a special bath and worship at Sangam.
- Tripura: Ganga Puja is celebrated by the Tripuri tribes.
Final Touch
Ganga Puja is a festival that makes us understand the importance of the holy water of Mother Ganga. On this day we pray to Mother Ganga to grant us purity, cleanliness, happiness, and peace.