There's a saying in Haridwar, "Whenever your job or business is not going well, come to "Hari ke dwar" (God's door) to seek blessings & make positive changes in your life" Haridwar is famous for the sacred Ganga river. The flow of the river Ganga in Haridwar is fast unlike the flow in Varanasi. The magnificent Ganga Aarti is the process of praying & chanting mantras for the Ganga river & seeking their blessings.
If ever you are visiting Haridwar, don't miss out on the sight of the serene Ganga Aarti. The view is grand, beautiful & peaceful. So, book an hourly hotel in Haridwar & experience it yourself! Meanwhile, I am walking you through the seven real-life pictures of Ganga Aarti.
I. What is Ganga Aarti?
Ganga Aarti is the process of calling out & thanking the Goddess Ganga for her perennial water supply. The Ganga water is at present used for agricultural & drinking purposes after some purification process. It's believed that taking a dip in the holy river Ganga makes you sin-free. Also, many people merge the ashes of their loved ones in the river Ganga to seek a liberation boon for the departed soul from the rebirth process.
There's a mythological story behind how the river Ganga came down from heaven to the earth. Saint Bhagirath did a hard Tapasya (meditation). He wanted that his ancestor's ashes got liberated peacefully. So, gods produced the flow of river Ganga so that the saint immersed his ancestor's ashes into the water for liberation.
Sounds interesting, right? Schedule hotels for a few hours in Haridwar for your stay during the visit. You can enjoy the Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh too, but don't forget to book an hourly hotel in Rishikesh.
II. How the Ganga Aarti started in Haridwar?
The exact timeline of when the Ganga Aarti started is not known. In the present times, the Ganga Aarti takes place at Har-ki-Pauri. A notable educator Pt. Madan Mohan Malviya initiated Ganga Aarti at Har-ki-Pauri (a central point near the river) in 1909. So, be sure to book an hourly hotel in Haridwar & enjoy the spectacular view of the Ganga aarti. If you are coming from Delhi, you can take a day-use hotel in Delhi for your stay & make a round trip to Haridwar.
III. Where does the Ganga Aarti take place?
The Ganga Aarti takes place at Brahmakund place of Har-ki-Pauri. The place where you can sit near the river is a series of three steps and is famously known as Har-ki-Pauri. The steps of Har-ki-Pauri lie near the national highway. So, you can book a hotel for a few hours in Haridwar near Har-ki-Pauri from MiStay so that you can sit calmly near the river & enjoy the sight of the Ganga Aarti. You can also experience the serene experience of Rishikesh's Ganga Aarti, and make sure to book a hotel for a few hours in Rishikesh for your halt.
IV. At what time does the Ganga Aarti take place?
You can watch the Ganga Aarti twice a day- one in the early morning & other- near sunset. The timings of the morning aarti vary from 5:10 am to 6:45 am depending upon the seasons. Similarly, the evening aarti timing varies from 5:15 pm to 6:50 pm. If you want to witness the experience of the full Ganga aarti, make sure to book hourly hotels in Haridwar so that you can freshen up & reach Har-ki-Pauri timely. If you are traveling from Delhi, schedule a hotel for a few hours in Delhi & travel to Haridwar.
V. Who performs the Ganga Aarti?
Ganga Sabha has been formed since the start of the Ganga aarti. It is an NGO organization responsible for all types of welfare & social activities on the Har-ki-Pauri. and the maintenance process of the river Ganga. The selected priests from the Ganga Sabha members perform the elaborated Ganga Aarti process. You can book day-use hotel in Haridwar for your affordable stay near Har-ki-Pauri. Make sure to book an hourly hotel in Rishikesh if you are going for the beautiful Ganga aarti in Rishikesh.
VI. How do the Priests perform the Ganga Aarti?
Before the aarti, the priests take out the idol of Goddess Ganga from the nearby main temple in a palki (carrier). They keep the idol on the decorated platform at the place of aarti. Then, priests thank the Goddess by offering flowers, red vermilion, bangles, milk & ghee(clarified butter). Then, they start chanting mantras & sing Ganga Lahari Strotam appreciating the lifeline of Haridwar, River Ganga. After this, the segment of the Ganga aarti follows with conch & ringing bells.
Sounds fascinating, right? Plan your pending visit to Haridwar this time. Just make sure to book a hotel for a few hours in Haridwar from MiStay for flexible check-in times. You can also schedule for an hourly hotel in Delhi if you plan to visit Haridwar from there.
VII. Traveler Tips
As Haridwar is one of the most visited religious places in the north, make sure to book hourly hotels in Haridwar in non-peak seasons. April to July is the most crowded month of the year for Haridwar. You can make donations to the Ganga Sabha fund & various other NGOs but make sure to collect the receipts. Beware of fraud priests & NGOs collecting money in the name of social work.
The Ganga Aarti is a grand event you don't want to miss in Haridwar. Make sure to arrive at the Har-ki-Pauri location at least an hour or 45 minutes before the aarti. You can even pay for the benches in the shops where the view is visible! As Rishikesh is about 30 minutes from Haridwar, make sure to visit Lakshman Jhula & book a hotel for a few hours in Rishikesh for your halt.
So, when are you going to Haridwar?