Apart from Haridwar where thousands of devotees took a dip in the Ganga, the Ganga Dussehra festival was also observed at Surkanda Devi temple near Chamba with religious fervor on Sunday. The festival started with the temple priest offering special prayers and sprinkling Ganga water on the idol of Surkanda Devi. Devotees reaching the shrine from Delhi had also organised a feast for the devotees on the occasion.
Hundreds of devotees reached the temple despite soaring temperatures, offered prayers and sought blessings from the goddess throughout the day. The devotees also sang devotional songs to the beats of traditional drums. Speaking on the occasion, the temple priest Ramesh lekhwar said that seeking blessings form the goddess on the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra has its own importance as the wishes of the devotees are fulfilled according to popular belief. However due to the negligence of the administration the popular festival is losing its sheen said the local residents. With no financial help coming from any quarter, the temple authorities are unable to provide basic facilities such as sanitation, toilets and parking.