Ganga Snaan

The sacred river the Ganges is mentioned in Vedas twice and in Puranas, it is known as the heavenly Ganges. The Puranas represent the Viyad-Ganga, or the heavenly Ganges, to flow from the toe of Vishnu, and to have been brought down from heaven, by the prayers of the saint Bhagirath, to purify the ashes of the sixty thousand sons of king Sagara, who had been burnt by the angry glance of the sage Kapila. Ganga was angry at being brought down from heaven, and Lord Shiva, to save the earth from the shock of her fall, caught the river on his brow, and checked its course with his matted locks. From this action, Shiva is called Ganga-Dhara (upholder of the Ganges).

Ganga snaan (bath) falls on the full moon day of Kartik (October-November). Some people observe fast on this day and sing songs in praise of Ganges. It is believed that whosoever takes bath with full devotion in the Ganges attains salvation. Once Lord Shiva told Parvati that very few people go to have a dip in the Ganges with full devotion. If they do then they will be rewarded with happiness and prosperity. 

To prove his point Lord Shiva came to the planet earth and changed himself to a leper and Parvati as a dutiful wife dressed in simple clothes. They both sat near the Ganges and Parvati requested many people, but no one agreed to help her in carrying her leper husband for a dip in the Ganges. After a long wait, one person took pity on Parvati and stopped to pick up the leper for a dip in the Ganges. 

He thought that helping the helpless people is as good as a dip in the Ganges and presumed that the leper might get cured of the disease after a bath in the Ganges. As soon he touched the leper, Lord Shiva and Parvati came in their usual form and blessed the man. He came back to his village and told everyone the story and was pleased that Lord Shiva and Parvati had blessed him for a happy and prosperous life.