Visit to the Holy City of Haridwar - 694

    HOLY CITY OF HARIDWAR 

HARIDWAR IN THE UTTARKHAND STATE IS AMONGST THE MOST SACRED PLACES VISITED BY MANY IN INDIA . AS THE NAME INDICATES IT IS BELIEVED TO BE  THE DOOR TO GODLINESS. 

MOTHER GANGES AFTER MEANDERING IN THE HIGHER REACHES OF THE HIMALAYAS MAKES ITS FIRST FOOTFALL IN THE PLAINS AT THIS PLACE . THE WATER IS FREEZINGLY COLD AND ONE HAS TO SHORE UP ALL OF ONES COURAGE TO ENTER THE WATER. 

OUR STAY AT THE MATA ANANDAMAYEE ASHRAM FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WAS VERY COMFORTABLE AS WAS THEIR FOOD WITHOUT A SPECK OF GINGER , GARLICK OR ONION.  A VERY SAFE OPTION WITH CROWDS IN THEIR THOUSANDS MAKING THEIR WAY HERE TO CELEBRATE THE KANWAR FESTIVAL IN THE MONTH OF SHRAVAN  FROM 22ND JULY TO 6 TH AUGUST. 

THIS KANWARI FESTIVAL IS IN LINE WITH OUR OWN KAVADI FESTIVAL DOWN SOUTH  . VAN , CAR , TRUCKS , TRACTORS , IN FACT ANY MODE OF TRANSPORT IS UTILIZED TO REACH THIS PLACE . 

TWO WHEELERS WITH 3 OR 4 PERSONS ON BOARD WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE BEREFT OF THE SILENCER , RACING AWAY WITH DEAFENING NOISE IN THEIR THOUSANDS IS SOMETHING WHICH ONE HAS TO GET USED TO. THIS I BELIEVE IS THE UNIQUE FEATURE OF THIS FESTIVAL AND EVERY BIKE RIDER MAKES HIS BIKE AS NOISY AS POSSIBLE . 

HARI KI PAUDI AND DAKSH KUND TEMPLE ARE A MUST VISIT PLACES AMONGST THE INNUMERABLE OTHER TEMPLES HERE .

RESPECTS TO THE DEPARTED ARE PAID BY TAKING A DIP IN THE GANGES . 

AT ALMOST FREEZING TEMPERATURES AND WATER FLOWING  IN FULL SPATE   ACCOMPANYIED BY A STEADY DRIZZLE  IS  A REGULAR FEATURE HERE ,  THIS MAKES TAKING A PLUNGE IN THE RIVER ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT . SELF AND MAMI WERE BOLD ENOUGH TO TAKE THE PLUNGE AND THE  THREE DIPS IN THESE ALMOST FREEZING  WATERS WAS AN ALL NEW EXPERIENCE . 

THE DEVOTION AND REVERENCE OF THE PEOPLE VISITING THIS PLACE MUST BE SEEN AND  ADMIRED .






Ardhanareeswarar in a Sitting Posture 




                     5000 Years Old Sivalingam 


Floating Stone from Rameshwaram 


Rudram Chanting 


THE 5000 YEAR OLD SHIV LING IS A REVERED PLACE HERE. MAMI PRAYING AND POURING WATER OVER THE LINGAM IS IN PICTURE .

ONE NOTABLE FEATURE OF ALL THE TEMPLES IN THE NORTH IS THAT , YOU PERFORM YOUR OWN PUJA , THE PUNDIT JUST HELPS YOU TO DO SO . NO MONEY IS EVER ASKED OR DEMANDED .

HARI OM .


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