Haridwar (pop. 228,832) is a city in western Uttarakhand in India, where the Ganges River enters the North India Plains. It is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage for Hindus. The name Haridwar means gate to Hari. Hari is one of the names of the god Vishnu. Haridwar’s main sacred site is the bathing ghat (steps) called Har-ki-Pauri (footprint of Hari). Many pilgrims come to Haridwar to bathe in the Ganges on the first day of the Hindu solar year, which usually falls in April.
Every 12 years, a Kumbh Mela festival is held in Haridwar. The Kumbh Mela is a celebration held every three years that rotates among four places: Haridwar, Nasik, Allahabad, and Ujjain. The Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, which lies at the meeting point of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, is the most auspicious of these festivals. According to Hindu tradition, these four towns had holy nectar dropped on them in ancient times and are thus sacred.
The Kumbh Mela is an enormous celebration, attracting millions of Hindus who come to bathe in the Ganges on auspicious dates during this celebration. To bathe in the Ganges at this time is thought to wash away the sins accumulated over the previous 12 years. It is not known for certain how old the Kumbh Mela celebration is, but Haridwar’s holy status goes back many centuries. It is thought to be the location of the ancient city of Mayapuri, which was visited by Buddhist pilgrims as long ago as the 400’s.
