Haridwar: The Gateway to the Gods

Dhyanshu — Sat, 23 Sep 2023 18:00:35 +0000

Haridwar is one of the holiest cities in Hinduism, and is located on the banks of the Ganges River in the state of Uttarakhand, India. It is said that the Ganges River enters the plains at Haridwar, making it a sacred place for Hindus to bathe and perform rituals. Haridwar is also a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus, as it is one of the four places where the Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, is held every 12 years.

Things to do in Haridwar

Near the point where the Ganges River emerges from the Himalayan foothills lies the ancient city of Haridwar, a significant Hindu pilgrimage location. A nightly ceremony called Ganga Aarti, which honors the river, is held at Har Ki Pauri, the largest of numerous holy ghats (bathing steps). During important events like the yearly Kanwar Mela, worshipers pack the city.

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There are many things to see and do in Haridwar, including:

Visit the Har Ki Pauri ghat: The Har Ki Pauri ghat is the most popular ghat in Haridwar, and is where the Ganga Aarti ceremony is held every evening. The Ganga Aarti ceremony is a beautiful and spiritual ritual where lamps are floated in the Ganges River and hymns are sung to worship the goddess Ganga.
Take a dip in the Ganges River: Bathing in the Ganges River is considered to be a very sacred act for Hindus. It is said that bathing in the Ganges River can cleanse one’s sins and bring good luck.
Visit the Mansa Devi Temple: The Mansa Devi Temple is a Hindu temple located on the Mansa Devi hill, overlooking Haridwar. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Mansa, who is considered to be the goddess of wishes.
Visit the Chandi Devi Temple: The Chandi Devi Temple is another Hindu temple located on the Chandi Devi hill, overlooking Haridwar. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Chandi, who is considered to be the warrior form of the goddess Parvati.
Visit the Bharat Mata Temple: The Bharat Mata Temple is a temple dedicated to Mother India. The temple is located on the banks of the Ganges River, and is a popular pilgrimage site for Indians.

Tips for visiting Haridwar

Here are a few tips for visiting Haridwar:

The best time to visit Haridwar is during the winter months (October to March), when the weather is mild.
Haridwar is a very crowded city, especially during the Kumbh Mela festival. If you are visiting Haridwar during the Kumbh Mela festival, be prepared for large crowds and long queues.
Haridwar is a holy city, so it is important to dress respectfully. Avoid wearing revealing clothing.
Be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to protect yourself from pickpockets.
If you are planning on taking a dip in the Ganges River, be sure to take a change of clothes and a towel with you.

Conclusion

Haridwar is a beautiful and spiritual city that is well worth a visit. If you are interested in experiencing the Hindu culture and religion, I encourage you to visit Haridwar.

The post Haridwar: The Gateway to the Gods appeared first on Republic Aeon.

Haridwar littered with 30,000 tonnes garbage as Kanwar Yatra concludes

Priya Aditi — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 07:49:23 +0000

Approximately 30,000 tonnes of garbage built up in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar after a record 40 million Shiva devotees visited the holy city for the annual Kanwar Yatra to collect Ganga waters. Authorities were working overtime to remove the garbage. Ganga Ghats, markets, parking spaces, and roads were littered along a 42-kilometer stretch of Kanwar beginning at Har-ki-Pauri.

Authorities stated that they were attempting to remove the trash, but that it could take weeks to completely clean the sacred city. Dayanand Saraswati, municipal town commissioner, stated that refuse and waste removal began on Saturday. “The Ganga ghats, roads, bridges, parking lots, and a temporary bus stop are being cleaned around the clock. We’ve increased the number of employees for the time-sensitive cleaning to 600. Additionally, we have begun dispersing insecticides and fogging the mela area, as stated by Saraswati.

Normally, 200-300 tonnes of waste are generated daily in Haridwar, but during the Kanwar Yatra and other festivals, that number increases to 500-2000 tonnes.

Millions of devotees participate in the annual Kanwar Yatra to collect Ganga’s sacred waters from Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Gomukh. They carried the waters on their shoulders to local hiva temples as an offering.

A seven-day rainy spell during the Kanwar Yatra impeded waste collection and disposal, according to officials. The Haridwar Municipal Corporation has added 40 more refuse transporting vehicles, bringing the total to 140.

On Sunday, senior police superintendent Ajay Singh and hundreds of police personnel conducted a cleansing campaign at Vishnu Ghat in Haridwar.

Mahamandaleshwar Hari Chetnanand Maharaj of Udasin Akhada stated that a pilgrimage is not considered entirely successful if the sacred Ganga, ghats, or religious sites are polluted. “According to the Vedic scriptures, even staying at Har-ki-Pauri or in the vicinity of revered shrines is inappropriate because the sanctity of such sacred places is compromised. “Devotees should take care not to commit such an irreligious act.”

Ujjwal Pundit, an additional local priest, advocated sensitising and educating pilgrims and tourists in order to keep Ganga and Haridwar pure.

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Anoop Nautiyal, an activist, advocated for a multifaceted strategy to prevent over 40 million pilgrims from polluting the sacred river and religious site. If such a large quantity of trash is left at Ganga ghats, then local administration has failed. …during rainy periods, it is impossible to sort trash and refuse that has been left in the open. So ultimately it will end up in landfills or dumps. The annual Kanwar pilgrimage necessitates long-term planning…NGOs and waste management experts should also be enlisted.”