Prayag meaning “confluence” in Sanskrit, constitutes a group of five sacred river confluences in the Garhwal Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand, India. This great river emerges from the icy glaciers of the Himalayas.
It starts with the Vishnu Prayag on the Alaknanda River, which is one of the two source streams of the most sacred river Ganges in the Garhwal Himalayas and other streams are the Dhauliganga, Mandakini, Pindar and the Bhagirathi – the head stream of the Ganges.
These five river confluences, are Vishnuprayag, Nandaprayag, Karnaprayag, Rudraprayag and Devprayag. Every year thousands of pilgrims travel to this beautiful and holy place to offer prayers to their Lord and get some fresh healthy air and peace of mind.
Devprayag is 68 kilometers north of Rishikesh. In Devprayag, one can find the Devprayag Confluence, which is the most spectacular among all the confluences. Devprayag Confluence is the point where Alaknanda river meets the Bhagirathi river, coming from Gomukh, to form the mighty Ganga.
Karnprayag (further indicated as Karnaprayag) is situated at 12 km from Gauchar and 31 km from Rudraprayag. In Karnprayag , one can find the Karnprayag Confluence which has two temples in this confluence, one dedicated to Goddess Durga (Uma) and the other dedicated Karna (the tragic hero of the Mahabharata).
Nandprayag (further indicated as Nandaprayag ) is situated 23 kilometers from Karnprayag and 190 kilometers from Rishikesh on the Uttarkashi road.
In Nandprayag, one can find the Nandprayag Confluence in which there is a temple dedicated to Gopalji, Lord Krishna. At Nandprayag, the Alaknanda river meets with the Nandakini river, which originates in the glaciers below Nanda Ghunti on the Nanda Devi Sanctuary.
Rudraprayag is situated 67 kilometers from Devprayag and 142 kilometers from Rishikesh on the Uttarkashi road. Rudraprayag is also an important commercial place. In Rudraprayag, one can find the Rudraprayag Confluence, which has a Rudranath and Chamunda Devi temple in this confluence.
Vishnuprayag is situated 187 kilometers from Devprayag and 260 kilometers from Rishikesh on the Uttarkashi road. Due to its routes for trekking and hiking, as well as its religious importance, Vishnuprayag is a well-liked vacation spot for thrill-seekers. Valley of Flowers, Kagbhusandi, and Hemkund Lake are just a few well-known hikes.
Origin
According to the Hindu Mythology when Goddess Ganga started descending to earth, to cherish the mankind, Earth was not able to face the force which Ganga had. To temper her force, Ganga was splitted into 12 channels. The siblings again get unite into a single stream after Devaprayag.
Other Details
| Language Spoken | Hindi, Garhwali and Kumaoni. |
| Place famous for | Pilgrimages and Tourist Places. |
| Best time to visit | Summers and Autumn. |
| Clothing | When visiting in the winter, wool and jackets are advised. |
How To Reach
Road links between Delhi and other significant cities are excellent for Dehradun and Haridwar. Buses from New Delhi and neighbouring cities, as well as private buses, travel to Haridwar. Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri are all located 109 kilometres, 146 km, 114 km, and 210 km, respectively, away from Dehradun.
By rail, Dehradun and Haridwar are well connected to Delhi and other significant cities.
The closest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is 55 kilometres from Haridwar. There are frequent flights from Delhi to Dehradun, and the latter has good connections to other significant Indian cities as well. With Char Dham Helicopter Service, which offers helicopter excursions to the dham beginning in Dehradun, the journey has now been made much easier.
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Puja Songs
The Puja songs of Uttarakhand, India, are a significant component of its cultural history. These songs, which are performed in adoration of the gods and goddesses, are a crucial component of the numerous religious and cultural celebrations held in the area. Traditional instruments like the dhol, damau, and hurka are used to accompany the lyrics of these songs, which are typically written in the regional Kumaoni or Garhwali dialects.
Pawada
The Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India, is well known for its pawada style of folk song. In the same category as the folk ballads, Khuded and Laman, which portray a woman’s loneliness while her husband is in war, is Pawada. Love, care, fear, and pride are all expressed in abundance in these songs. These songs provide the woman with the inner strength to deal with daily struggles when she is by herself and without her husband. The Hills people are extremely brave and committed to serving their Nation, it should be noted. They have repeatedly shown their courage during war and warfare.
Maangal
During auspicious events like marriages, childbirth, and other religious and social festivals, the folk music genre known as “Maangal” is traditionally performed in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. The songs are said to bring luck and fortune because the word “Maangal” is an auspicious or blessing. Traditional instruments like the dhol, damau, and hurka are used to accompany the lyrics of Maangal songs, which are typically written in the regional Kumaoni or Garhwali dialects.
Laman
Traditional folk music known as laman originates from the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. A single artist or a small group of musicians will typically perform this unusual style of music, which combines singing and playing an instrument. Laman songs frequently have deep and depressing tunes and are sung in the regional Garhwali language. The anguish and suffering of the common people and their struggles with poverty, love, and loss are frequently reflected in the lyrics of the Laman songs.
