Har Ki Pauri, Uttarakhand
Regarded as one of the most sacred Ghats in Haridwar and India, Har Ki Pauri is a revered landmark and is visited by devotees and visitors in the large number seeking the blessings of the Holy Ganga by offering their prayers. Har Ki Pauri which translates to 'Steps to Lord Shiva' is situated in the holy city of Haridwar which is considered as one of the seven holiest places in the country. A dip in the river Ganges here is believed to wash away one's sins and according to Indian mythology, it is one of the four places where the drops of elixir ('Amrit') were accidentally spilled by the celestial bird Garuda. The river is filled with a golden hue of countless diyas offered by devotees floating along the river.
Har Ki Paudi is the place where River Ganga flowing through the Himalayas touches the plains for the first time. Oozing serenity and calm all the time, it is the evening time at Har Ki Pauri that is most cherished by its visitors. With a plethora of temples at the riverbank, offerings are made with lighted candles and diyas floating across the river, an enchanting sight to behold. The chanting of mantras and prayers with sages meditating exudes spiritual vibes and is an experience of a lifetime. The sound of gongs in the background takes one to an entirely different world. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are believed to have visited the place in Vedic times. The large footprints on a stone wall are said to belong to Lord Vishnu.
History
According to the quotes of the incredible legends, there was a horrible battle between Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Devils), for the nectar (Amrit) urn, which was extracted out of the Manthan of Sheer Sagar. Seeing this terrifying battle, Lord Vishnu guise himself as a beautiful woman and charmed the Asurs to obtain the urn, which contains the nectar, for Devas. When Asurs got to know the actual truth of the beautiful women, they ran after Lord Vishnu to chase the Urn. While chasing the Urn from Vishnu, a few drops of nectar fell out at a place, which is now called Brahma Kund at Har-ki-Pauri. After knowing about the cultural significance of this place, King Vikramaditya built it in the 1st century in the memory of his brother, Bharthari, who used to meditate here on the bank of Ganges.
MAIN ATTRACTION- EVENING AARTI
Evening Ganga Aarti is the most stunning part of the Har ki Pauri. The sights of the priest with large bowls of fire, devotees on the other side, and the sound of gongs, make it a sight to behold for the rest of the life. During the evening Aarti, devotees float earthen lamps in the Ganges, creating a spectacular unmatched scene.
Ganga Aarti
Ganga Aarti is a religious prayer that takes place at the bank of the sacred river Ganga at the Har Ki Pauri ghat in Haridwar. Bringing in tourists and devotees from all over the world, it is a ritual of light and sound where the priests perform prayers with bowls of fire and the ringing of the temple bells. Visitors float "diyas" (small candles) and flowers, surrounded by the chanting of the mantras and the reflection of the lights off the surface of the flowing river, which is said to be blessed by the Goddess Ganga.