Kumbh in Haridwar – Uttarakhand
Known for the many ghats and the temples, the city of Haridwar is located on the banks of the River Ganges and is one of the popular pilgrimage spots for Hindus. The pilgrims visit the city and bathe in the many ghats to relieve themselves of sin and to find a way to salvation in life. The evening Aarti on the largest ghat, Har ki Pauri is very famous and so is the festival of Kumbh in Haridwar that happens every twelve years.
Haridwar – a place where Ganga flows calmly
Unlike its neighboring city Rishikesh, River Ganges flows calmly and majestically through the city of Haridwar. As a destination revered for religious reasons, the place has many locations with religious connotations like temples and ashrams.
The city of Haridwar is quite colorful and has a unique blend of cultures from all over India, with people thronging to have a dip in the holy Ganges all days of the year. The aura is mystical and spiritual and is considered among the top seven holy cities in the country. Being located on the banks of the River Ganges has managed to gain more popularity for this city along with the Kumbh in Haridwar which takes place once in twelve years in Haridwar.
The city has however surpassed the title of being a religious place with time and has now transformed into a city known as a center for cultural and spiritual wellness, yoga, a center to learn Sanskrit and old Indian traditions, etc. There are also popular markets in Haridwar to quench your thirst for shopping like the Moti Bazaar, Bara Bazaar, Kankhal, and Jwalapur markets.
Kumbh in Haridwar
The Kumbh in Haridwar that happens every twelve years is another reason why Haridwar has a special place among other Hindu Pilgrimage places. The Kumbh Mela, as it is generally known, is a huge celebration where thousands of people from various parts of the world, mainly from Indian states, come over to watch and be part of it.
Kumbh in Haridwar is an auspicious and religious festival that witnesses the presence of spiritual gurus coming from all over the country. It is one of the biggest celebrations that happen every three years when pilgrims from all over the country come to the respective city, where the Mela is happening, to wash their sins by taking a dip in the holy Ganges.
The Kumbh in Haridwar happens in four different places every time, Prayag, Nasik, Haridwar, and Ujjain and it happens every three years in each of these locations. In short, the Kumbh Mela returns every 12 years to the same place and hence you can expect Kumbh in Haridwar to happen every 12 years which makes it a mega event.
Why is the Kumbh in Haridwar significant?
The word “Kumbh” translates literally to nectar or honey. According to the legends and myths, the gods were weakened by the curse of Sage Durvasa which empowered demons who were wreaking havoc in the world. This is when the Gods were advised by Lord Brahma to churn the sea to get the immortality nectar with the help of the demons. When war broke out between the Gods and Demons upon sharing this nectar, the Kumbh or nectar fell in these four locations, where the Kumbh Mela is now held.
According to history, Kumbh in Haridwar has a history dating back to more than two thousand years. The first-ever written account of this festival was done by Xuanzhang, a Chinese traveler who was here in India during the reign of King Harshavardhana. The festival, wherever it happens, attracts as many as 120 million pilgrims from all over the country and even from across the world.
There is also a reason mentioned that it is celebrated every 12 years to mark the completion of one revolution of Brihaspati or Jupiter, who is known as the guru of all the Gods. The festival lasts for as long as 2-3 months. Along with these celebrations happening once in three years, there is also a celebration held every 144 years in Prayag, the latest held in 2001, that attracts even more pilgrims.
Haridwar – what makes the city special?
The name Haridwar translates literally to Hari Ka Dwar which means a Gateway to God. It is also known for the Panch Tirth or the place which has five different pilgrim sites referring to Neel Parvat or Chanda Devi, Mansa Devi or Biswas Tirtha, Kankhal, Kushwart Ghat, and the largest ghat Har ki Pauri or the Gangadwara.
The city is a paradise for both nature and spirituality lovers. It has a kaleidoscope of interesting colors, cultures, civilizations, and more. The place is also referred to by different names like Kapila, Gangadwara, Mayapuri, and so on.
While the city is mainly known for its religious inferences, connotations to mythology attracting millions of pilgrims, etc., the city is also a place of excellent cuisine that interests many food lovers from across the world. If you want to taste authentic Indian cuisine, then Haridwar is one of the best places to be, more so during the Kumbh in Haridwar when there is much more to explore.
There are also travelers arriving here from all over the world in search of mental and physical well-being. If you want to visit a place with both spiritual and cultural inferences and truly taste Indian culture, then this city is the place to be.
Other things to do in Haridwar
If you are in the city for the Kumbh in Haridwar, then you might also want to consider visiting some of the below places too.
- Mansa Devi Temple
- Bara Bazaar
- Sapt Rishi Ashram
- Sapt Sarovar
- Kanva Rishi Ashram
- Chandi Devi Temple
- Har Ki Pauri
- Bharat Mata Temple
- Daksha Mahadev Temple
- Maya Devi Temple
- Bhimgoda Kund Tank
- Piran Kaliyar
- Chilla Wildlife sanctuary
- Patanjali Yogpeeth
- Shantikunj
Apart from being part of the Kumbh in Haridwar, you can also visit these places and know more about the people and culture of the country.