Har ki Pauri

Har ki Pauri, meaning the footsteps of God, is the most sacred ghat in Haridwar and one of the holiest in all of India. It is believed to be the exact spot where the Ganga descends from the Himalayas into the plains. A footprint imprinted on a wall here is venerated as that of Lord Vishnu. Every morning and evening, thousands of devotees gather for the Ganga Aarti, where priests wave large lamps of fire over the river while bells ring and hymns fill the air. Thousands of diyas floated on the water during the aarti create an extraordinary spectacle. Haridwar is one of four cities that hosts the Kumbh Mela every 12 years, and Har ki Pauri is the central site for that gathering.