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.
