Hurdwar, on the right bank of the Ganges, a place of great sanctity, is
celebrated as the resort of Hindū pilgrims, in amazing numbers. Hurdwar,
or _Hurīdwar_, (the gate of Hurī, or Vishnū,) is also called
_Gangū-dwāra_—as at this place the Ganges, having traversed 150 miles
from its secluded mountain birth-place, and having forced a passage
through the last barrier or gate (_dwāra_), emerges in a broad clear
stream upon the plains. Hurdwar contains many fine buildings parallel
with the course of the river, some of which have their foundations in
the sacred waters. They are generally of brick, but many are of very
fine white freestone. The bed of the river is intersected with low woody
islands, and is a full mile broad in the rainy season.
A fair takes place annually at Hurdwar, in the month of April, lasting
nearly a fortnight; that being the period chosen by pilgrims, who flock
from all parts of India to perform their ablutions in the Ganges: it is
held in the bed of the river, which at that period is nearly dry. Two or
three hundred thousand people are attracted to this fair, and every
twelfth year, it is supposed a million of people assemble at this place.
The scene is interesting in the highest degree. Merchants from Calcutta
meet with others from Osbeck Tartary, and Cabul; and thousands of Seiks
attend the fair. Horse merchants from Bokhara and Cabul occupy the
central parts of the dry bed of the river; those from Tūrkistān encamp
at the back of the town. Elephant dealers traverse the roads of the fair
with their animals, morning and evening; and the place is crowded with
camels, mules, and shawl and jewel merchants; in fact, merchandise of
every description is collected at the fair from every part of the
Eastern world, and it is difficult to convey even a faint idea of the
swarms of living creatures, men and beasts of every description, which
occupy every foot of ground during the fair.
The Hindūs receive from the Brahmans a certificate of having performed
the pilgrimage; and carriers of holy water attend in great numbers to
bring away the sacred stream in bottles, carefully sealed and stamped.