Pilgrimage
Haridwar
Where the Ganga enters the plain. From Har ki Pauri the Himalayan dhams open.
When
All year. The evening aarti is a steady appointment.
Region
Uttarakhand
Haridwar is a tirth in itself and a gate to the road ahead. The aarti at Har ki Pauri is daily. From here many pilgrims go on toward Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The four dhams of the four directions are another set: Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, and Rameswaram. Both are true. Do not mix them up.
Take a place on the ghat before the aarti. Dip only as far as you can. If the current is strong, touching the water at the edge is enough.
This is a general introduction. Sequence, materials, and timing change with family, region, and shakha. Your priest and your own custom have the last word.