A Hindu festival honouring the Ganges' avatarana (descent), Ganga Dussehra, is often referred to as Gangavataran. Hindus think that on this day, the sacred Ganges river came to earth from heaven. The main celebration sites are on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar, Patna, Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Allahabad, where worshippers congregate and offer prayers to the river. A dip in the river on this day is said to purify the devotee's condition and cure any physical problems he may be experiencing.  In Sanskrit, "Hara" denotes destruction and "Dasha" represents ten.  In Haridwar, Uttarakhand, the event was celebrated by an estimated 15 lakh people. At the several ghats in Haridwar, deep daan and Ganga aarti are performed as part of numerous ceremonies.

The festival is distinctive. Through ceremonies intimately related to Mother Nature, it evokes the Divine. Vaishaka Mahotsavam, a remarkable event, takes place outside of the usual temple gates, in the middle of a deep forest, with the majestic Bavali River setting the mood. Two temples, Akkare Kottiyoor and Ikkare Kottiyoor, that are located on the opposing sides of the River Bavali, participate in the festival in Kottiyoor in the Kannur district. Hindus observe a 27-day pilgrimage each year to honour the Daksha Yaga Mythology. The pilgrimage is comparable to Prayag's Kumbh Mela, where ablutions are done. Similar to the annual pilgrimages to Sabarimala for Hindus and the Hajj for Muslims, the Vysakha Mahotsavam attracts people from far and wide.