Evening Ganga Aarti Varanasi
Evening Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
India is a mystical land, it has a lot of places to explore and it can be called as a traveller's delight. One of the amazing part about this country is that you can travel from one town to another and find people with different cultural beliefs.
There are various rituals in India and one of the strong and intense ritual is that of the Varanasi Ganga Aarti.
There are various rituals in India and one of the strong and intense ritual is that of the Varanasi Ganga Aarti.
A TRIP TO VARANASI- EXPERIENCE THE EVENING GANGA AARTI
Ganga Aarti or the Evening prayer, dedicated to Mother Ganga. Every evening prayer is carried out facing the river Ganga. a lot of clay lamps are lit during this Aarti. . The Aarti is always accompanied by different prayer sung while praising the Ganga. It is believed that the lamps acquire the power of the deity.
A group of young saints dressed up with silky saffron and white robes conduct this ceremony. Each pandit or saint takes up a specific spot in the Ghat and start the ritual by offering flowers to the river. The ritual includes many oil lamps like snake hood lamp which are waved in a synced motion.
Conch shells are blown during the ceremony too. Yak tail fans and peacock feather fans are also waved during the ceremony. The priests end the ceremony by pouring a bowl of water into the river. Upon which, the devotees let go of small oil lamps with flowers on a leaf to float on the river.
Thousands of devotees gather to watch this Aarti and by the end of this Ganga Aarti ceremony, you can find thousands of small clay oil lamps floating on the river which looks like thousands of stars floating on river Ganga
A group of young saints dressed up with silky saffron and white robes conduct this ceremony. Each pandit or saint takes up a specific spot in the Ghat and start the ritual by offering flowers to the river. The ritual includes many oil lamps like snake hood lamp which are waved in a synced motion.
Conch shells are blown during the ceremony too. Yak tail fans and peacock feather fans are also waved during the ceremony. The priests end the ceremony by pouring a bowl of water into the river. Upon which, the devotees let go of small oil lamps with flowers on a leaf to float on the river.
Thousands of devotees gather to watch this Aarti and by the end of this Ganga Aarti ceremony, you can find thousands of small clay oil lamps floating on the river which looks like thousands of stars floating on river Ganga
Preparation For The Evening Ganga Aarti
A lot of preparations have to be done before starting for the Ganga Aarti. The Priests who are performing the aarti are supposed to wear a dhoti and kurta. The kurta should have a gamcha as well. Gamcha is more like a towel. They gather five elevated planks with a layered brass lamp. There is also an idol of Ganga Devi with incense sticks, flowers, and conch shells. There are other pooja items as well.
Only learned Pandits can perform the aarti. They should have knowledge of the holy Hindu books like Upanishads and Vedas. The team of priests is headed by the main priest who is the leader of Gangotri Seva Samiti.
They encircle ritual place in a clockwise way facing the River Ganga and offer the devotional thanks in that way. They are dressed in special attire like silks, exquisite materials, etc., and chant slogas or sing bhajans in the background. This is done as an offering of thanks to Maa Ganga.
It is believed by doing this they will also get the divine power of the water of Ganga. Then, the devotees take the smoke from the burning lamps and take it near their head as a mark of respect and to get blessed and purified by the Goddess
Ganga Aarti is an important ritual held on a grand scale every morning and evening on the banks of the holy Ganges. The priests perform the Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. The entire Ghat gets illuminated with a divine light that can be felt strongly. The magnificent ritual involves huge brass lamps lit with oil and the priests chant the holy mantras that reverberate in the entire location.
Evening Aarti Ceremony-Varanasi,
The Varanasi Ganga Aarti takes place every sunset at the holy Dasaswamedh Ghat. A sight to behold when visiting Varanasi, we can reserve seats for you if you would like to watch it close up.
In Summer Starts Approx- 7 – 7.30 Pm & In Winter Approx- 6 – 6.30 Pm
Evening Ganga Aarti is a religious prayer, so a person belonging to any religion can participate in this prayer and it is totally free
There is no such dress code, but you are requested to wear gentle clothes. this Evening Aarti is a religious prayer dedicated to the river Ganga, one must respect.