Top 10 Sacred Dips in India Where You can Wash off your Sins

Indians are religious and God fearing people. We in our normal routine life engage in lot of religious act like visiting the temple, feeding the cow or watering the holy Tulsi plant. Apart from upholding the Indian tradition, our piety could be love towards God, fear, a mix of both or ways of creating bond with almighty God or simply a way of communication with Him. While there are varied religious activities which Indians indulge in, perhaps the one considered most holy and sacred is taking a dip in the waters of holy rivers. We believe that taking a dip in the sacred rivers would free our souls from the accumulated sins and can release us from the wrench of life.

So here we list Top 10 Sacred Dips in India to take a holy bath and free the souls:
Cauvery River
River Cauvery is considered to be a very sacred river of the southern region of India. It originates from the Brahmagiri Hill in the Western Ghats in Coorg district of Karnataka. The river flows through the states of Tamilnadu and Karnataka in southeastern direction. Thousands of devotees and pilgrims take a holy dip in Cauvery and worship Lord Shiva during various festivals as menitioned in the Taml calendar. The devotees indulge themselves in the holy dip and prayer with the belief of attaining Moksha. The river and the details of its holiness and fame are inscribed in the Tamil literature.

Godawari River
The river Godawari begins at the Western Ghats and flows towards the Eastern Ghats in the southern region of India. Godawari originates from the hills situated in the village Tryanibak at Nasik district in the state of Maharashtra. A dip in the river Godavari is considered very sacred. It is believed that according to the Hindu calendar any individual who will take a holy dip here in the month of Makar or Shravan will be able to cleanse his/her sins. After the dip people take a darshan of Lord Shankara in the Someshwar and Kapaleshwar temples.


Triveni Sangama, Bhagamandala
Bhagamandala is a small pilgrim town and famous for the confluence of three rivers Cauvery, Kannike and mythical river Sujyoti(underground). A dip in the Triveni Sangama(confluencing point) is considered very auspicious. After taking a dip in the Triveni Sangama, devotees worship at the Bhagandeswara temple and then proceed to the holy place Talacauvery, about 8 kilometers to the west.


Ganga Ghats
Ganga Ghats situated at Varanasi are considered to be the holiest places in Varanasi. The Ganga Ghats are always full of pilgrims who flock to the place to take a holy dip in the river Ganges. Be it any special festival or daily ritual a holy dip in Ganges is believed to absolve all from the pangs of birth and death. According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi, the city of Lord Shiva, liberates souls from the human body.


Ganga Sagar
The 2700 Km journey of Mother Ganga ends here to get merged with Bay of Bengal. Also known as Sagar Island, Ganga Sagar is in Southeastern part of West Bengal, India and considered as a religious spot for Hindu pilgrims. It’s about 80 km south of Kolkata, cut off from the main land by Muriganga River. A holy dip in Ganga Sagar is of tremendous impact as it is believed to clear all the accumulated sins. After the dip the pilgrims set for Kapil Muni ashram. Also the devotees head for Fairgrounds, Sea beach at South Sagar, Ramkrisna Mission Ashram and Chimaguri Mudflat.


Tapi
River Tapi flowing through the city of Surat is considered very sacred among the Hindu pilgrims. It is believed that Lord Rama had taken a holy dip in this river to gain Moksha to his father King Dashrath. A holy bath during the solar eclipse is considered of great importance as the river Tapi is believed to have arisen from the sun. Tapti is also known as Suryaputri so this celestial event is the confluence of father and daughter.

Har ki Pauri, Haridwar
One of the most famous and visited sites of Haridwar, Har ki Pauri is considered as one of its five main holy sites. It is believed that this is the place where two Hindu Gods Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu appeared in the Vedic era. It is also believed that Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation, performed yagana here. It is said that holy footprints of Lord Vishnu is present and preserved in this ghat. People visiting Haridwar take a holy dip here and then worships, attain prayer and float diyas and offerings. It is also known as Brahmakund. Besides the regular dip special festive days in the Hindu calendar evidence thousands of pilgrims accumulating here for a holy dip.


Sangam
Sangam, also known as Triveni Sangam, situated in Allahabad, is a site famous for the merge of three holy rivers Ganga, river Yamuna and the mythical Saraswathi. The confluence offers excellent view during the sunrise and the sunset. Kumbh Mela (held once in 12 years), Ardhkumbh Mela (held once in 6 years), and Maha Mela (held every year) are held on the banks of Sangam during which pilgrims flocks to take a holy dip in the union of three rivers.


Saryu
The ancient holy river Saryu, situated in Ayodhya is known to be the birth place of Lord Rama. Thousands of devotees assemble here during the festivals marked in Hindu calendar like Sawan Jhula Mela, Nag panchami, Ram Navami to take holy dips and free themselves from accumulated sins.


Kudala Sangama, Bagalkot
Kudala Sangama Sukshetra is sited in Bagalkot District, 15 km from the Almatti dam. It’s a sacred confluence of two holy rivers Krishna and Malaprabha. Kudala Sangama is also a center of pilgrimage for devotees of the Lingayat faith. Devotees take holy dip at Kudalasangama and then proceed for the Kudalasangameshwara, Basavanna`s Aikyamantap and other places of worship.