Thousands of pilgrims thronged the Haridwar ghats today, April 27, 2025, to take a holy dip in the Ganga on sacred Vaishakh Amavasya day. Religious fervour was seen as devotees from across India arrived even before sunrise, seeking blessings and performing rituals for their ancestors.
Vaishakh Amavasya, occurring on the Krishna Paksha of the Vaishakha month, is considered very sacred in Hinduism. The Amavasya tithi this year began at 4:49 AM on April 27 and would end at 1:00 AM on April 28. The day takes on special significance to undertake tarpan and Shraddha-rituals with the intention of paying respects to and appeasing ancestral spirits.
Charity and the distribution of food, clothing, or monetary aid is done by many under the conviction that such actions bring prosperity and divine merit.
Dip in the Ganga at Haridwar on Vaishakh Amavasya is believed to cleanse devotees of sin and free them of evil forces.
The holy dip accompanies devotion to Lord Vishnu and their forefathers, lighting lamps, and worship together. The day also coincidentally falls on Shani Jayanti in South India.
The coming together of religion, tradition, and ritual makes Vaishakh Amavasya a powerful day for spiritual renewal, with the ghats of Haridwar resounding in chants, hymns, and the shared hope for peace and blessings.
