Bathing Ghats
The main & common reason for one to attend the holy festival of Kumbh Mela is to take dip in Holy river, It is said that a holy dip in sacred rivers during Maha Kumbh or Ardh kumbh takes human out of the circle of life & death ( stage known as Moksha ). Pilgrims & Sadhus in great numbers from around the world visit here to liberate themselves. Holy rivers like Ganges , Yamuna & celestial Sarawati at Parayag ( Sangam at Allahbad ) is age old symbol of Indian Culture & Civilization. These river offers purity, wealth, fertility and wash away the sins of those who bath in it.
There are many bathing ghats at Haridwar the main ghat is Har Ki Pauri.
Har ki Pauri (हर की पैड़ी)
This sacred Ghat was constructed by King Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. It is believed that Bhartrihari eventually came to Haridwar to meditate by the banks of holy Ganga. When he died, his brother constructed a Ghat in his name which later came to be known as Hari-Ki-Pari.This sacred bathing ghat is also known as Brahmakund Ghat.Vikramaditya remains an enigma; some historians date his reign to 57 BC, others to the sixth century AD. The reflection of golden hues of floral diyas in the river Ganga is the most enchanting sight in the twilight during the Ganga Arti ceremony . Attending the Ganga Arti which is performed here.
The other famous ghats in haridwar are Asthi Parwah Ghat , Subhash Ghat and Gau Ghat.
Ashti Pravah Ghat (अस्थि प्रवाह घाट)
Immediately south of the main Ganga temple is the Asthi Prawah Ghat, where the ashes of the dead are immersed in the Ganga, in the belief that as with the 60,000 sons of Sanger, the cooling waters of the river will bestow salvation upon the departed soul From time to time, when the canal is closed, beggars sift the river bed in search of gold or coins which may have been immersed with the ashes.
Subhash Ghat (सुभाष घाट)
Subhash Ghat, with a statue of the freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, is adjacent to Har-Ki-Pairi. The Sewa Samiti, another voluntary organization, runs a dispensary here and also assists pilgrims.
Gau Ghat (गऊ घाट)
South of Subhash Ghat is Gau Ghat, where people seek atonement for the sin of cow-slaughter (gau means cow) The unique veneration of cow in India goes back 3500. years. The cow was “Kamadhenu”, the fulfiller of desires, and a cherished item of wealth. Death ceremonies were completed with the pious act of donating a cow. The sin of killing a cow is “equal to the sin of killing a Brahmin”.