| Voice of Haridwar :
Ravindra Sani
Haridwar faces the major crisis of unemployment. Increase in population
is leading to various issues and challenges.
There is acute water shortage and frequent load shedding.
The literacy rate is very low. The quality of primary education
has reached nadir.
There are not many industries in this area. The existing industries
do not employ localities. All the job avenues are taken by migrants.
Haridwar District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 2360.0 Km2
Population in Haridwar (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 1927029
Male : 1025428
Female : 901601
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 31156
In seeing : 15503
In speech : 2406
In hearing : 1512
In movement : 9039
Mental : 2696
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 71
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 -2006)
Disability : 295 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 309 (Census 2001)
Minority : Yes
Brief About Haridwar District
Haridwar is the gateway to the four pilgrimages
of Uttaranchal. It’s also your starting point on the journey to
the sacred sources of the rivers Ganga and the Yamuna. According
to legend, Prince Bhagirath performed penance here to salvage the
souls of his ancestors who had perished due to sage Kapil’s curse.
The penance was answered and the river Ganga trickled forth from
Lord Shiva's locks and its bountiful water revived the sons of King
Sagara. In the tradition of Bhagirath, devout Hindus stand in the
sacred waters here, praying for salvation of their ancestors.
Haridwar located in the foothills of the Himalayas,
represents the point where the Ganga reaches the plains. Haridwar
is an ancient pilgrimage site, held in reverence for centuries.
The Chinese pilgrim Hyuen Tsang who visited India in the first millennium
CE, describes Haridwar as Mayura, on the eastern banks of the Ganges.
Several temples and ashrams dot this town and a visit to Haridwar
is like stepping into a totally different world.
Legend has it that Bhagiratha, brought the Ganges
into the earth, and into this point where his ancestors were burnt
to ashes by the curse of the sage Kapila. Kapilastaan, a spot in
Haridwar is pointed to as Kapila's hermitage. Haridwar was once
known as Gangadwara. Haridwar (and Rishikesh) represents the gateway
to the Himalayan pilgrimage shrines of Badrinath and Kedarnath.
The pilgrimage to the Himalayan shrines begins only when the sun
reaches the zodiac sign of Aries. Haridwar is also the site of celebration
of the Kumbha Mela, once in twelve years, when Jupiter transits
to the zodiac sign of Aquarius. The five sacred bathing spots in
Haridwar are Gangadwara, Kankhal, Nila Parvata, Bilwa Theertha and
Kusavarta. The main ghat at Haridwar is known as Hari-ki-Pairi (known
for a footprint of Vishnu on a stone in a wall). Nearby is the Gangadwara
temple, the most important of the several temples that dot this
town. The Ganga Aarti which is celebrated at 7 pm each night, is
a spectacular sight, when the aarti ceremony is performed at all
temples in Haridwar at the same instant (see image above). Hundreds
throng to the ghats at Hari-ki-Pairi to participate in this festival.
Offerings of lamps and flowers are made to the river immediately
following this ceremony and it is a moving sight to watch hundreds
of miniature lamps float along the river. Near Haridwar are the
towns of Mayapuri and Kankhal. Kankhal houses the Daksheswara temple,
said to be the site of Daksha's yagna, which was destroyed by Shiva.
Air : The nearest airport is Jolly Grant,
Bhaniawala, Dehradun, 41 km. Deccan Airlines services from Delhi.
Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi (220 km)
Rail : Connected with all important cities
of India viz., Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Howrah, Varanasi, Allahabad,
Ujjain, Amritsar, Dehradun, Lucknow, etc.. Major trains are: 4309
/ 4310 Ujjain-Haridwar-Dehradun. 2019 / 2020 Bombay-Haridwar-Dehradun.
4041 / 4042 Delhi-Haridwar-Dehradun. 4265 / 4266 Varanasi-Haridwar-Dehradun.
3009 / 3010 Howrah-Haridwar-Dehradun. 2017 / 2018 Delhi-Haridwar-Dehradun.
Road : Haridwar on National Highway no.
45 is well connected to all major cities and other parts of the
state viz. Delhi (214 km), Agra (386 km), Ambala (168 km), Badrinath
(325 km), Dehradun (52 km), Kedarnath (250 km), Saharanpur (81 km),
Nainital (286 km). Local Transport Services : Private bus services,
tempos (vikrams), auto rickshaws, tongas, cycle-rickshaws and taxis. |
