Mar 6, 2015

Kashi Yatra- The popular Ganga Aarti



Tons of websites appear in the result list when you google for Varanasi. And the most mentioned 'must-do' item will be Ganga Aarti in the evening on Dashashwamedha Ghat (Read more on ghats here). Well, it is a beautiful, grand, elaborate, touching event in Varanasi although it looks a bit dramatic and touristy. As I mentioned earlier my trip was for seven days in Kashi and every evening I watched this event with full enthusiasm and devotion. I didn't care about the mosquitoes, about the light colored clothes I was wearing, that stinking cow dung right beside me and the people who were determined to sell the music CDs to me. Everyday I was there at 5:45PM.


People start gathering at 5:30PM itself to find a good spot to watch the aarti. Some find a place on the roof, some on the pedestals, some in the boat, some on the steps and some more stand. From anywhere it looks good. Most of the tourists are very eager to take pictures. And rest of the devotees are interested in the aarti itself. Well, 'aarti' meaning a short prayerful Hindu ceremony of thanking Gods/Goddesses through an oil lamp, and/or incense (dhup). Ganga Aarti is to thank the holy River Ganga for being the lifeline of people, for cleansing us of all our sins.


The young pandits took positions on their platforms set for aarti. Aarti started with blowing conch. After a brief introduction the music started on the loud speakers. Devotional songs on Sri Krishna, Mata Ganga and the Shiva Tandav Stotra were prominent. Some volunteers ring the bells synchronously during aarti and it sounds very divine. People were clapping with the music. Different types of aartis is offered to Lord Shiva and River Ganga, like incense, brass lamps, dhup (heavy incense smoke). peacock fan, scarf etc.


The aarti is choreographed, the bhajan music is much of Bollywood style with heavy beats. Or it is possible that, being a southern I am used to chanting of mantras and stotras (devotional hymn in sanskrit) and find these songs filmy. Whatever, it is all dramatic and very well catches you. 


Ganga aarti is a way boatmen say thanks to River Ganga for- aarti is great economy for them! :) People are allowed to get inside the boat docked at Dashashwamedha ghat to watch the aarti from the riverside. It costs the tourist Rs.50 or more per person. I don't know how aarti really looks from that side because I watched the aarti sitting on the steps every day. Not that I wanted to save Rs.50, but aarti has to be always attended facing the God. You don't thank anybody from behind, do you?

All silver and brass lamps are ready for aarti at Dr Rajendra Prasad Ghat

Volunteers prepare the lamps with complete devotion. Silver and brass lamps are filled with oil, cotton thread and some lamps with incense. And next day all these used lamps are washed glittering clean. 

After aarti a woman is cleaning all used lamps

For the people of Kashi it is a routine job, but for the tourists it is some event to remember! A memory to take back as a souvenir!

Have you attended Ganga Aarti?
---

Leave a comment to share your beautiful thoughts and constructive feedback. If you have enjoyed this article then connect with Google+, Twitter, Facebook or subscribe through email for more exciting updates!

Related articles-
Seven days of my Kashi Yatra
Varanasi- As I Saw, A Photo tour
Backpacking India III- Classic Pilgrimage!
Backpacking India Part II- A Parallel Journey
Stories from Backpacking India

If you want pictures please ask me :)
---
Creative Commons License
Scrapbook- A Travel Blog by Kusum Sanu is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

13 comments:

  1. It is definitely a wonderful experience. Love the ambiance. But after a while it does seem filmy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Everyday I watched this event for seven days! Never got bored. Bollywood style is dramatic :)

      Delete
  2. I thoroughly enjoyed your photos and commentary - especially after I looked up Ganga Aarti on Youtube and watched several videos first.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Glad you enjoyed! It is worth all the time huh?

      Delete
  3. That looks an amazing ceremony to witness. Your photos are fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, I've never heard of this before. What fascinating experience. Do they only do this in Varanasi?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is very nice! The aarti is performed at Haridwar too.

      Delete
  5. Nope, not yet.
    I've read account of the aarti. I hear it is quite an experience.
    Nice to hear your side of it and see your pictures.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! It is an experience and a 'must attend' thing in Kashi.

      Delete
  6. This is the precise weblog for anybody who needs to seek out out about this topic. You notice so much its almost arduous to argue with you. You positively put a brand new spin on a subject that's been written about for years. Nice stuff, simply nice!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Kusum..
    You are right! No matter which religion you belong to, one of the benefits of being in India is the fact that we get to enjoy the grandness and splendor of any celebration performed. A country with such diversity yet is united immensely. I’ve been in Kashi before and reading your blog is now like walking down that memory lane.

    ReplyDelete

I would appreciate to have your precious thoughts, suggestions and kind encouraging words in comments. Please do not include self-promotional links.I am encountering some problems because of these links and hence I may not publish them.