Ganga Saptami
festivalsQuick Overview
- Date in 2026
- Wednesday, April 22, 2026
- Tithi
- Vaisakha Shukla Saptami (Purnimanta)
- Tithi begins / ends
- 10:50 PM, Apr 22 to 08:50 PM, Apr 23
- Lunar month
- Vaisakha · Shukla Paksha
Ganga Saptami
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Lunar Month: Vaisakha
Ganga Saptami at a Glance
Ganga Saptami is fixed by the lunar calendar to Vaisakha Shukla Saptami, the 7th tithi of the waxing (Shukla) fortnight of Vaisakha.
- Tithi rule
- Vaisakha Shukla Saptami (Purnimanta)Shukla SaptamiVaisakha month
- Tithi swami and group
- Surya · Bhadra Tithi
Panchanga on This Day
Ganga Saptami · Apr 22, 2026
About Ganga Saptami
Ganga Saptami, also known as Jahnu Saptami or Ganga Jayanti, commemorates the day the sage Jahnu released the river Ganga from his ear. It falls on the Shukla Paksha Saptami of the Vaishakha month and is an important day for worshipping the Ganges as a living goddess.
When Bhagiratha brought Ganga to earth, her powerful currents disrupted the hermitage of the sage Jahnu. In his anger, he swallowed the river into his ear. The distressed Bhagiratha and the gods prayed for her release, and Jahnu, pacified by their devotion, let her flow again on Saptami. This rebirth is celebrated as Ganga Saptami.
Devotees believe that bathing in the Ganges on this day purifies the soul, removes diseases, and pleases the ancestors. Special pujas, deepdan, and recitations of the Ganga Sahasranama take place at riverbanks across northern India.
Vrat Vidhi & Fasting Rules
Ganga Saptami is observed by fasting, holy bathing, and the worship of Goddess Ganga with lamps and flowers.
- Wake before sunrise, bathe, and wear clean clothes; proceed to a riverbank or use Ganges water at home.
- Observe a fast from sunrise until the evening Ganga Puja; take only fruits or milk if needed.
- Offer flowers, incense, sandalwood, and a ghee lamp to the river while reciting Ganga mantras.
- Float diyas in the river and perform Tarpan to ancestors with sesame seeds and water.
- Listen to the Ganga Saptami Katha and sing Ganga Aarti in the evening.
- Feed Brahmins or the poor and donate clothes or umbrellas to pilgrims.
Vrat Katha: Sage Jahnu and the Release of Ganga
As Ganga descended to earth at the request of Bhagiratha, her rushing waters swept away the sacred utensils and disturbed the meditation of the great sage Jahnu.
Angered by the disruption, the sage drank the entire river into his ear. The gods and Bhagiratha were dismayed, for without Ganga, the souls of Sagara's sons could not be liberated.
They prayed to Jahnu with humility and explained Bhagiratha's noble purpose. The sage, pleased by their devotion, released Ganga from his ear on the Saptami of Vaishakha Shukla.
Since that day, this Saptami is celebrated as Ganga Saptami, honouring the river's rebirth and her power to cleanse all beings.
Ganga Saptami: Frequently Asked Questions
Vaisakha Shukla Saptami; its swami is Surya, a Bhadra Tithi.
Shukla Saptami: 10:50 PM, Wed, Apr 22, 2026 to 08:50 PM, Thu, Apr 23, 2026 (IST).
Vaisakha Shukla Saptami: 01:24 AM, Wed, May 12, 2027 to 11:14 PM, Wed, May 12, 2027 (IST).
No, Ganga Saptami commemorates Ganga's release by Jahnu in Vaishakha, while Ganga Dussehra celebrates her descent from heaven in Jyeshtha.
Yes, devotees can use Ganges water or any clean water body and perform the puja with sincere devotion.
Festivals in the Same Lunar Month
Vaisakha
Note: times are shown with their date; a Panchang day runs from sunrise to sunrise.
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