Where to sit, when to arrive and what happens during the evening aarti in Haridwar, for anyone seeing it for the first time.
The evening aarti at Har Ki Pauri lasts barely twenty minutes, but people travel across the country for it. Hundreds of lamps are raised over the river while the bells and the chanting fill the ghat. If it is your first time, a little planning helps you see it properly.
When to reach
The aarti starts at sunset, around 6:15 PM in October and earlier in winter. The steps fill up an hour before. Most Haridwar packages reach the town by afternoon so that the group can walk to the ghat together by 5 PM.
Where to sit
- The steps facing the main ghat give the clearest view of the lamps.
- The bridge across the river is less crowded and good for photos.
- Families with elders should stay near the edges, close to the exits.
After the aarti
Many people float a small diya made of leaves on the river. Walk back slowly, the lanes are packed for half an hour after the aarti ends. Your trip manager will tell you the meeting point and time for the walk back to the bus.
“We reached an hour early and got a place right on the steps. My mother still talks about it.”
