What are the festivals in Ganga-brahmaputra basin?

* Celebrated on the tenth day of the waxing moon in the Hindu month of Jyeshtha (June), Ganga Dussehra marks the birth of Goddess Ganga.

* Devotees take a holy dip in the river Ganges on this day to wash away their sins and purify themselves.

2. Chhath Puja (November)

* One of the most important festivals in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin, Chhath Puja is dedicated to the sun god Surya and his wife Usha.

* It is celebrated over four days and includes fasting, bathing, and praying to the rising sun.

3. Makar Sankranti (January)

* Makar Sankranti is a popular harvest festival, marking the transition of the sun from Sagittarius to Capricorn.

* It is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm throughout the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. People take a holy dip in the river on this day and offer prayers to the sun god. Kite flying is another popular tradition associated with Makar Sankranti.

4. Durga Puja (October)

* Durga Puja is a ten-day festival that worships Goddess Durga.

* It is widely celebrated in West Bengal, Odisha, Tripura, and parts of Bihar and Assam. During Durga Puja, people gather with their families and friends to attend grand feasts and festivities. The festival culminates in the immersion of Goddess Durga's idol into the river.

5. Kali Puja (November)

* Kali Puja is dedicated to Goddess Kali, one of the fiercest forms of Goddess Durga.

* Celebrated on the new moon day (Amavasya) of the Hindu month of Kartik (November), Kali Puja involves elaborate rituals and animal sacrifices.