Manikarnika Snan - 15-June-2026

The Significance of Manikarnika Snan

The sacred Manikarnika Snan ritual bath takes place at Manikarnika Ghat, one of Varanasi’s oldest and most sacred ghats along the Ganges River in India. Believed to provide liberation (moksha) and purification, this ghat holds immense religious and spiritual importance in Hinduism.

To cleanse their sins, achieve spiritual merit, and receive blessings for peace and salvation, devotees take a sacred dip in the Ganges River at Manikarnika Ghat.

The Legend of Manikarnika Ghat

To please Shiva and Parvati, Vishnu created Manikarnika Ghat, according to a Hindu myth. The name of this ghat is attributed to Lord Shiva’s earring (Manikarnika), which is believed to have fallen into the Ganga during Vishnu’s meditation. It’s believed that since then, Lord Shiva has whispered the Tarak Mantra, a mantra of liberation, into the ears of the cremated, granting them moksha.

As a key cremation ground in Hinduism, Manikarnika Ghat symbolizes the continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It is believed that immersion in the Manikarnika Ghat’s waters washes away the cycle of rebirth, bestowing liberation (moksha) upon the faithful.

1. Ritualistic Bath in the Ganges

Devotees take a holy dip at Manikarnika Ghat, believing that the sacred waters purify the soul and remove past sins.

Many pilgrims visit during auspicious Hindu festivals, such as Kartik Purnima and Maha Shivaratri, to perform this ritual.

2. Performing Tarpan for Ancestors

Devotees perform Tarpan (offering water and prayers to ancestors) to help their departed souls attain peace.

It is believed that rituals performed here bring salvation to both the living and the dead.

3. Offering Prayers and Charity

Many people light oil lamps, offer flowers, and chant mantras along the riverbanks as part of their spiritual practice.

Giving donations, food, and clothes to the poor is considered highly meritorious at this sacred site.

May the sacred waters of Manikarnika Ghat grant all devotees inner peace, wisdom, and liberation! 🙏🌊