Quick answer: The Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri, Haridwar, is held twice daily, at sunrise and at sunset. The evening aarti, the one most yatris come for, begins around sunset: roughly 5:15 to 5:45 pm in winter and 6:45 to 7:15 pm in summer. It is free and needs no booking. Arrive 45 to 90 minutes early and sit on the Brahmakund steps or across the water on the clock-tower island.
Updated for the 2027 yatra season (facts checked October 2026)
Every evening at Har Ki Pauri, as the sun goes down, the priests of Shri Ganga Sabha raise large brass lamps to the river while bells, conches and the aarti song fill the ghat. Thousands of yatris float leaf-boat diyas on the current at the same moment. The aarti was started in 1916 at the initiative of Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, and Shri Ganga Sabha has organised it since. This guide tells you when to come, where to sit for a good view, what to expect on crowded days, and how 2027, the year of the Haridwar Kumbh, changes the picture.
What time is the Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri?
There are two aartis every day, one at sunrise and one at sunset. Because they follow the sun, the time moves through the year. The table below gives approximate start times for the evening aarti; confirm on the day at the ghat or with your hotel.
| Months | Evening aarti starts around | Morning aarti around |
|---|---|---|
| December and January | 5:15 to 5:45 pm | 6:30 to 7:00 am |
| February and March | 5:45 to 6:30 pm | 6:00 to 6:45 am |
| April and May | 6:30 to 7:00 pm | 5:15 to 5:45 am |
| June and July | 7:00 to 7:20 pm | 5:00 to 5:30 am |
| August and September | 6:15 to 7:00 pm | 5:30 to 6:00 am |
| October and November | 5:15 to 6:00 pm | 6:00 to 6:30 am |
The aarti itself, with the lamps raised and the main song, lasts around 20 minutes; with the bhajans, the announcements and the deep-daan before and after, the whole evening programme runs roughly 30 to 45 minutes. The morning aarti is much quieter and is a good choice for elderly yatris who find the evening crowd difficult.
Where to sit for the Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri
Har Ki Pauri is a set of ghats on a channel of the Ganga, with Brahmakund at its centre and an island with the clock tower (often called Malviya Dweep) across the water. Each spot gives a different experience.
| Spot | View | Crowd | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brahmakund steps (main ghat) | Closest to the priests and lamps | Densest; you may be standing | Devotees who want to be in the heart of the aarti |
| Clock-tower island (Malviya Dweep) | Front-on view of the whole row of lamps across the water | Busy but more space to sit | Families, first-time visitors and photographs |
| Ghats on either side of Brahmakund | Side view, lamps partly visible | Moderate | Those arriving late |
| Footbridges over the channel | Good overhead view | Police keep people moving | A quick look, not for sitting through the aarti |
For most families, especially with elders or children, we suggest the clock-tower island. You see the full spread of lamps reflected in the water, you are less likely to be pushed, and it is easier to leave afterwards.
How early should you reach?
- Ordinary weekday in winter: 30 to 45 minutes before sunset is usually enough for a place to sit.
- Weekends, summer holidays and any Purnima or Amavasya: 60 to 90 minutes early.
- Big snan days, Kanwar season and Kumbh days: the area may be regulated by police and mela authorities; follow their routes and expect to watch from a distance.
Before the aarti, volunteers of the Ganga Sabha may ask for donations. Give only against a printed receipt if you wish to give, and ignore anyone who insists.
Practical tips for the evening aarti
- Footwear: remove shoes before the ghat steps and leave them at a shoe stand; going barefoot on the steps is the custom.
- Belongings: carry very little. Pickpockets work in the crowd. Keep phones in an inside pocket.
- Diya: buy a leaf-boat diya (deep-daan) from a stall on the way. Float it gently from the lowest step, holding the chains.
- Water safety: the current at Har Ki Pauri is strong. Hold the chains when you take a dip, and never let children near the edge alone.
- Elderly yatris: choose the island or a side ghat, sit near an exit, and leave a few minutes before the end to avoid the rush.
- Getting there: vehicles cannot reach the ghat. Parking is at designated lots, and the last stretch through the bazaar is on foot or by cycle-rickshaw.
What is the canal closure and does it affect the aarti?
Har Ki Pauri sits on the channel that feeds the Upper Ganga Canal. Every autumn, usually between Dussehra and Diwali, the irrigation department shuts the canal for a few weeks of cleaning and repair, and the water at Har Ki Pauri drops sharply. In 2026 the closure began on the night of 20 October and was reported to continue until Diwali night, 8 November. Authorities were asked to keep a minimum flow at Brahmakund. The ghat stays open to devotees during this period, but the river looks very different and floating diyas is harder. If the full river matters to you, avoid these weeks.
Haridwar Kumbh 2027 and the Ganga aarti
The Haridwar Kumbh of 2027 runs from 14 January to 20 April 2027, with ten snan days announced by the Uttarakhand government and the mela administration. The three Amrit snans named by the mela officer are on 6 March (Mahashivratri), 8 March (Phalgun Amavasya) and 14 April (Mesh Sankranti). On these days and the days around them, access to Har Ki Pauri is controlled by the mela authorities, roads close, and the akharas have priority at Brahmakund.
| Date (2027) | Snan day |
|---|---|
| 14 January | Makar Sankranti |
| 6 February | Mauni Amavasya |
| 11 February | Basant Panchami |
| 20 February | Magh Purnima |
| 6 March | Mahashivratri (Amrit snan) |
| 8 March | Phalgun Amavasya (Amrit snan) |
| 7 April | Nav Samvatsar |
| 14 April | Mesh Sankranti (Amrit snan) |
| 15 April | Ram Navami |
| 20 April | Chaitra Purnima |
If your aim is a peaceful evening aarti with elderly parents, plan for a weekday between the snan days, or after the Kumbh ends. Read our full Haridwar Kumbh 2027 guide.
Which other days are crowded at Har Ki Pauri?
Outside the Kumbh, the busiest days are Makar Sankranti, Somvati Amavasya, Ganga Dussehra (13 June 2027 by the panchang), Kartik Purnima, Baisakhi and the Kanwar Yatra fortnight in Shravan (from late July in 2027), when lakhs of Kanwariyas collect Ganga jal. Long weekends bring large crowds from Delhi. Our Yatra Calendar 2027 lists these dates month by month.
How to reach Har Ki Pauri
- Haridwar Junction railway station: about 2 to 3 km.
- Jolly Grant airport, Dehradun: about 35 to 40 km, around an hour by road.
- From Dehradun city: about 55 km; from Rishikesh about 25 km; from Delhi about 220 km.
Combine the aarti with Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi by ropeway, Daksheshwar Mahadev at Kankhal, and a second evening aarti at Rishikesh.
What we arrange
Our Haridwar Rishikesh Yatra (2 nights, 3 days from Haridwar) includes the Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri and at Parmarth Niketan, with Mansa Devi and Chandi Devi. Families coming for shraddh can join the Delhi Haridwar Pind Daan Yatra, which includes the evening aarti. If you cannot come, our purohit offers a Ganga aarti sankalp at Har Ki Pauri (online) with deep-daan in your family’s name; it is a puja beside the public aarti, not a private aarti. Haridwar is also where our Char Dham Yatra from Haridwar begins. To plan, use the enquiry form on this page or call/WhatsApp us (numbers on our Contact page).
Frequently asked questions
Is there a ticket or booking for the Har Ki Pauri Ganga aarti?
No. The Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri is free and open to everyone, and there is no booking for a seat. Places are first come, first served. You can make a donation to Shri Ganga Sabha, which organises the aarti, but give only against a proper receipt and ignore anyone who pressures you.
What is the Ganga aarti time in Haridwar in winter?
In December and January the evening aarti starts around 5:15 to 5:45 pm, close to sunset, and the morning aarti around 6:30 to 7 am. In October and November it is slightly later, about 5:15 to 6 pm. Exact times shift with the sunset, so check on the day.
What is the Ganga aarti time in Haridwar in summer?
In June and July the evening aarti starts around 7 to 7:20 pm, and in April and May around 6:30 to 7 pm. The morning aarti is early, around 5 to 5:45 am. Summer evenings are crowded, especially on weekends, so reach 60 to 90 minutes before sunset.
Where is the best place to watch the Ganga aarti at Har Ki Pauri?
The Brahmakund steps put you closest to the priests but are the most crowded. For most families, the clock-tower island across the water gives the best overall view of the lamps and their reflection, with more room to sit and an easier exit. Footbridges give a good view, but police keep people moving.
How long is the Har Ki Pauri Ganga aarti?
The main aarti, with the lamps raised and the aarti song, lasts about 20 minutes. Including the bhajans, announcements and deep-daan before and after, the whole programme takes roughly 30 to 45 minutes. Allow another 20 to 30 minutes to leave the ghat area on a busy evening.
Is the Ganga aarti held during the canal closure?
The ghat remains open to devotees during the annual canal closure between Dussehra and Diwali, but the water level at Har Ki Pauri falls sharply, so the scene looks very different. In 2026 the closure was reported from 20 October to Diwali night, 8 November. If you want the full river, plan your visit outside these weeks.
Can I watch the Ganga aarti on Haridwar Kumbh 2027 snan days?
On the main snan days, especially the Amrit snans on 6 March, 8 March and 14 April 2027, access to Har Ki Pauri is controlled by the mela authorities and the crowd is enormous. You may watch only from a distance. For a calm aarti, choose a weekday between snan days or after 20 April 2027.
Is Har Ki Pauri safe for elderly parents and children?
Yes, with care. Choose a weekday or the quieter morning aarti, sit on the island or a side ghat near an exit, keep children’s hands held, and use the chains if you take a dip, as the current is strong. Remove footwear at a shoe stand and carry very little.
[…] Ganga Aarti at Har Ki Pauri: held every evening; very crowded during the mela, so take your place early. Read our guide on Har Ki Pauri Ganga Aarti timings and where to sit. […]