Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar

Mansa Devi sits on a hilltop overlooking Haridwar and river Ganges. It is celebrated throughout Northern India due to the extraordinary liveliness of Durga's divine presence. Mahishasura Mardini (Slayer of Asura/Demon Mahisha ), she is known as fulfiller of desires or granter of wishes. The reputation is built on the experiences of generations of pilgrims who find their sincere desires fulfilled and prayers answered after visiting the temple: like seeds planted in fertile soil..

Haridwar is one of India's most ancient and revered cities. It is one of the 4 places where Kumbha Mela is held, along with Allahabad, Ujjain and Nasik. Kumbha Mela is the largest celebration of the divine on earth (Estimated attendance for the 2013 Allahabad Kumbh Mela was 120 million).

Gallery

Ganesh and Prasaad stand side by side in the soft pink lighting of the temple interior

A stone statue heavily bedecked in bright flower garlands and gold plated jewlery

Ganesh stands to the left side of a group of ten smiling men. They are all wearing white robes (kortas and Dhoti's). The mountains surrounding haridwar frame them.

A night photograph of the raging river ganges. The street lights bathe the scene in an incandescent glow while the cloudy depths of the river seem hard as stone.

A crowd of people surround a priest with a flaming dish in his hand. It is night time and they are all colorfully dressed.

The pandits sit in lotus positions lined left to right all smiling at the camera.

A group of men dressed in kortas and dhotis smile at the camera. They are the pandits and have just taken part in the latest yagya.

The pandits are leaning against a railing in a line. Ganesh is standing to the right. They are on a bridge that crosses a peaceful sdection of the Ganges. There are boats in the background, the water is blue.

Buildings line a cobblestone street. The bridge that crosses the ganges is in the distance with the river continuing into the distance.

The pink temple building is beatifully framed by the bright blue sky. The building sits on a large earth carved terrace with a tree in the foreground.

Haridwar as seen from Mansa Devi. The river cuts a swathe through the mass of buildings that is haridwar. The sky is dusty white

The city is illuminated with deep incandescents and ghostly flourescent lights. The river reflects them. The sky is darkness but you can make out the buildings.

Mansa Devi Temple, Haridwar

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