Har ki Pauri

After a bit of relaxation and freshening up, we visited the most anticipated Ganga aarti at Har ki Pauri. Preparations were already underway for the upcoming Kumbh Mela and Mahashivratri next week (we went a week earlier to avoid the mad rush, especially considering added risk of COVID-19). It is a surreal place, even for someone like me, who is agnostic at best. The largest river in India, considered as the holy Ganga (or Ganges), is a magnificient sight to behold as it flows alongside as you walk towards the ghat were the aarti is performed. Ganga aarti happens twice a day - morning and evening both of which are usually attended by thousands. We were not comfortable with so many people swarming, most of them not wearing masks, or not wearing it properly the whole time, so we kept our distance. Once the aarti was over and the crowd dispersed a bit, we went down to the banks and dipped our toes in the water which was refreshingly cool

हर की पौड़ी : हरकी पौड़ी ब्रह्मकुंड घाट के नाम से भी जाना जाता है। रोज शाम महाआरती के दौरान यहां का दृश्य देखने लोग दूर-दूर से आते हैं। यहां स्नान करना बेहद पुण्यकारी माना जाता है। यह हरिद्वार में सबसे खास घाट पाना जाता है। क्योंकि मान्यता है कि यही पर समुंद्र मंथन के दौरान अमृत की बुँदे कलश से छलक कर गिरी थीं। कहा जाता है कि यहाँ पर डुबकी लगाने से करोड़ों जन्मों का पुण्य प्राप्त होता है। और मोक्ष की प्राप्ति भी होती है।

Har Ki Pauri is a famous ghat on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. This revered place is the major landmark of the holy city of Haridwar. Literally, "Har" means "Lord Shiva" who is the god according to shaivite Rishav Bhagwan school of Hindu theology, "Ki" means "of" and "Pauri" means "steps". Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to have visited the Brahmakund in Har Ki Pauri in the Vedic times..It is believed that it is precise spot where the Ganges leaves the mountains and enters the plains. The ghat is on the west bank of Ganges canal through which the Ganges is diverted just to the north.

We were just in time for the Ganga aarti, which started around 5:40 PM as the Sun was setting. Even in January, there was so much crowd, no wonder people can't catch a single glimpse of the aarti in peak season. We found a lucky spot with a direct view of the aarti just in front of the temple. We stayed there for some more time after aarti as the crowd had dispersed within minutes. Some of us even took bath at the ghat.Tip: If you want to carry Gangajal for home, better fill it from Rishikesh. Water in Haridwar may not be so clean as people take baths across the entire ghat.