My India. Festival of 'Ganga Dussehra'

Hindu devotees gathered at the Ghats of river Ganga in India’s various pilgrimage sites where devotees took a holy dip and offered prayers to celebrate the festival of 'Ganga Dussehra' that marks the descent of the holy river on earth. Regarded as a celestial river of Hindus originating in the heavens, the legend holds that Ganges was gifted to mankind in response 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 Ganges to descend onto the parched earth and bring life. This holy festival is observed for a period of ten days. On the occasion, devotees flouted coronavirus norms as they were seen without masks and not maintaining social distance as they performed rituals and prayed to mark the special occasion in northern Varanasi and Prayagraj cities.