Haridwar’s aarti is the country’s most famous riverside ceremony — bells, conches and a hundred lit lamps swinging over the Ganga, performed twice daily at sunrise and sunset, with the clock following the sun. Reported seasonal examples: January ~7:10 AM and ~5:30 PM; April ~5:35 AM and ~6:30 PM.
The government’s Utsav portal lists the ceremony as an official darshan event; the minute-level times remain guide-maintained. Checked 02 October 2026.
The seasonal frame
| Season | Morning | Evening |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec–Jan) | ~7:10 AM | ~5:30 PM |
| Spring (Apr) | ~5:35 AM | ~6:30 PM |
| Rule | Sunrise | Sunset |
Status: reported seasonal timetable — arrive 90 minutes early for the evening ceremony regardless.
The evening experience
The ghat fills from the front rows backward; the standing room behind is where latecomers end up. Floating your own diya happens before and during the ceremony — buy the leaf-boats from the steps vendors. The crowd is dense, wet and joyful; hold children, keep phones zipped, and don’t wade beyond the chains (Ganga currents are real, strongest after monsoon — general safety guidance, not an official advisory).
For elderly pilgrims
The Shri Ganga Sabha installed an automatic elevated (lift) chair at Har Ki Pauri so elderly and disabled pilgrims can take the dip without the steps (reported by Times of India) — a genuinely useful facility; confirm its operating hours on site. The ghat steps are uneven and slippery when wet: the wheelchair-and-companion frame applies.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the evening aarti?
At sunset — seasonally ~5:30 PM (winter) to ~6:30–7 PM (summer), per the reported month-wise table.
Is there a morning aarti?
Yes — sunrise, the same ghat, far thinner crowds. Worth it at least once.