The Kumbh Mahaparva Mela, Haridwar
Arguably the most important religious gathering that takes place in Uttarakhand is the Kumbh Mela, which descends upon Haridwar once every twelve years.
The myth behind this pilgrimage goes back to when the gods and the demons were embroiled in a conflict over a pitcher or kumbh of amrut or the nectar of immortality. The story goes that in order to prevent the pitcher from falling into the hands of the demons, Lord Vishnu took the form of Mohini to distract the demons and successfully wrested the pitcher from their control. As the pitcher was being carried to heaven, a few drops of the nectar are said to have fallen on the four cities of Nashik, Ujjain, Prayagraj and Haridwar in India. Thus, millions make the pilgrimage to these sites for the Kumbh Mela, hoping to take a dip in the rivers that flow by these cities, as it is believed that the waters have absorbed the nectar of immortality. Moreover, the entire flight of the kumbh is supposed to have taken place over twelve divine days, which is equivalent to twelve human years. Thus, the Kumbh Mela is celebrated four times in a span of twelve years, in each of these cities. Due to the sheer volume of people that make the pilgrimage and its spiritual significance for Hindus, the festival has made it to UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Chardham Yatra
In the hilly reaches of Uttarakhand lie the four pilgrimage sites of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. These four destinations, usually traversed from the west to east, are known as the Chardham Yatra, and attract thousands of pilgrims each year. Not for the weak of body or mind, the pilgrimage cuts through treacherous mountain passes at times, but rewards those who endure it with stunning sights of the Himalayas, mountain streams, lush valleys and the camaraderie of fellow pilgrims.
While Haridwar is not one of the Char Dham temples itself, it is often used as a starting point for the Char Dham Yatra due to its accessibility and the fact that it's a major religious center in Uttarakhand.
Here's a brief overview of the Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar:
Yamunotri
The first stop on the Char Dham Yatra is Yamunotri. In the Uttarkashi district to the west, the Yamunotri glacier nourishes the mountain spring that goes on to become the mighty Yamuna that flows through North India. It sits at an altitude of 3,293 metres and is surrounded by the snow-clad peaks of the Himalayas near the Indo-China border. The river Yamuna is said to be the sister of Lord Yama, the god of death. Thus, it is believed that a dip in the holy waters of this river ensures a painless death for humans. Apart from the Yamunotri temple, the site is also well-known for its thermal springs, which are best experienced at Surya Kund - the water here is estimated to reach temperatures of up to 1900 degrees Farheneit and locals are known to use the water to cook rice and potatoes!
Gangotri
The next stop on the Chardham Yatra is the Gangotri, which is hailed as the origin of the river Ganga, one of the most important rivers in India, culturally as well as ecologically. However, the river is known as Bhagirathi when it starts off at the Gangotri. It is only when the river merges with the waters of the Alaknanda at Devprayag that it becomes the river Ganga.
The legend of the goddess Ganga, however, is associated with Gangotri and not Devprayag: it is believed that the goddess Ganga transformed herself into a river at Gangotri in order to wash away the sins committed by the forefathers of King Bhagirath.
A few kilometres away from the Gangotri temple, tourists can visit the Bhairon Ghati temple near the confluence of the Jat Ganga and the Bhagirathi rivers, as well as witness the Jalmagna Shivling, a naturally formed rock Shivling that is submerged underwater.
