Varanasi is one of India’s most ancient cities and a major pilgrimage site. Its beauty lies in its centuries-old traditions, spectacular ghats, and narrow winding streets. It is a city full of beauty and history, known for its vibrant culture, colorful temples and old buildings. The river Ganga is the lifeblood of the city, and all along its banks, visitors can see millions of devotees visiting temples, offering prayers, and the constant cycle of life happening. Kashi, which means “city of light,” is seen as the city of faith, work, and salvation. Here, beauty and spirituality come together in a way that tourists can see and feel.
There is nothing in this entire world that can match the beauty and energy of this place. It’s majestic Ghats and the mesmerizing Ganga aarti makes it even more beautiful. The immensely powerful experience of attending the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi is unlike any other. Tourists from all over the world come to Varanasi to see the incredible Ganga Aarti. If you haven’t seen the beautiful Ganga Aarti at Varanasi, then your trip will be a total waste. Experiencing the majestic Ganga aarti in Varanasi will give a unique experience and peace of mind that should not be missed by anyone.
Spiritual Bliss in Varanasi – Experiencing Ganga Aarti
Ganga aarti is a beautiful event that happens every morning and evening in Varanasi that no one should miss. This ritual is conducted to pay homage to the holy river Ganga. The evening Aarti is the major attraction. Witnessing the aarti is an unforgettable experience. This beautiful rite fills the surrounding with spiritual thoughts and makes every moment special. People believe that taking part in the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi and breathing in the smoke from the lamp at the Ganga Aarti cleans the soul and makes people feel purified from the inside.
Ganga Aarti has a great significance in Varanasi. It is a ritual of dedicating oneself to the divinity of Goddess Ganga. It is done to seek blessings and appreciation for the divine river Goddess who is said to have descended from Heaven. The peaceful atmosphere, the shimmering light of the lamps, the chants and music, and the spiritual ambiance all make this experience even more magical and special. Only in Varanasi is the Ganga River called Uttar Vahini. Hindus think that the fact that Ganga flows in the opposite way here in Varanasi is a good sign.
Discover the Magic of Varanasi through its Famous Ganga Aarti
Ganga Aarti is a Puja ceremony that takes place every evening on the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi. It is one of the most iconic and mesmerizing experiences in Varanasi. It is an ancient Hindu religious practice performed at the banks of the river every evening before sunset. It is done by seven learned Brahmins from Kashi, who represent the Sapta Rishis who worshiped Maa Ganga. Every day, there are a lot of people including locals, luxury travellers, sadhus, tourists, media, photographers, and many more. People from all over the world come to experience this beautiful evening prayer to the Sacred River.
Ganga Aarti is a spiritual ceremony celebrated by people of Varanasi. The ritual is performed by offering prayers and thanks to the Goddess Ganga in hopes of purifying souls, as well as replenishing essential elements of nature. This Maa Ganga Aarti has a unique appeal. Listening to the mantras, the sound of bells, the buzzing of the drums, it seems that you are slowly getting lost in the sound of Aarti.
A Spectacular Show of Holiness – Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
The Ganga Aarti is a well-planned and choreographed show for the tourists who come to Varanasi from all over the world to see this visual event. In Varanasi, the Ganga Aarti takes place while mesmerizing Mantra and melodious Bhajans are played in praise of Lord Kashi Vishwanath and Ganga Maiyya.
Ganga Aarti is a very important ceremony that takes place every morning and evening on the holy Ganges River. A holy light shines on the whole Ghat, and it can be felt strongly. Huge brass lamps filled with oil are lit during the beautiful ceremony, and priests sing holy mantras that can be heard all over the place. If you want to see the Evening Aarti from a different point of view, you can watch it from a boat fixed in the middle of the Ganga River. Hundreds of boats crowd together and people often fight for the best spot to see the evening aarti.
Preparations for Ganga Aarti
The evening aarti focuses on Dashashwamedh Ghat, while the morning aarti focuses on Assi Ghat. A lot of work needs to be done before the Ganga Aarti can begin. Most of the time, Ganga Aarti is done after sunset, so the time can change by about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the season.
The aarti is done with brass lamps and the chanting of a prayer in front of a very large crowd. Conch shells, big brass fire lamps, prayer bells, fresh flowers, copper lotas or water pots, incense sticks, match boxes, and everything necessary is kept on the platform. These are the parts of the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi that are used one after the other during the aarti.
All the young priests wear the same outfit, a white dhoti, a saffron kurta, and a golden stole or drape. During the winter, they all wear red sweaters. Their clothes match in color and look good. All of the priests who have to do the aarti wear the same dhoti and shirt, which are held together with a long towel. First, they get ready for the Ganga aarti by gathering things on the platform.
People take their respective seats while other sits in the stairs. Every inch of the Dashashwamedh Ghat is occupied by the visitors to experience the evening aarti. A group of boats full of worshipers go around the spot where aarti is done on the bank of the River. Everyone seems very excited to see the event, and some of them even take pictures and live video of it.
Experiencing the Incredible Ganga Aarti
After the wait, the final aarti begins. A group of young monks start aarti by holding a lit lamp in their hands and chanting mantras in a rhythmic way. At the moment, devotees clap along with the reciting of the mantras. As soon as they started blowing on the conch shell, the air filled with holy sounds. The picture of Maa Ganga is decorated with garlands, stands on the centre platform of the seven wooden platforms.
The ritual usually follows a set of sequence, starting with the lighting of the oil lamps. Then incense and flowers are offered to the water with the help of certain hand gestures. They are accompanied by some chants and hymns. This whole process creates a very peaceful ambiance coupled with a beautiful view of the Ganga’s ghats lit up with lamps making the moment somewhat magical. In a clockwise direction, the monks start to move the huge brass fire lamps with many layers. They also lift up a fire lamp that looks like a Sheshnag, or a snake with many heads. In between the aarti, the priests blew the conch shells very loudly, and the aarti continued with the incense sticks. As they pray during Deep Aradhana, they also keep turning around so that everyone can see the aarti ceremony well.
At the end of the Aarti, fresh flowers were given to the Holy Ganga Maiyya. The ending of the ritual is also interesting. At the end, a priest walks up to the riverbank and pours holy water into the river while singing old hymns. It is an amazing thing to watch. The smell of the incense sticks made the event more intense, and the rhythmic chanting of prayers made people relax and calm.
Overview of Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
People watch aarti silently from the stone steps or boats that are tied together. Ganga is worshipped by doing religious practices and chanting “mantras” as a way to show respect. After the evening aarti ends in a beautiful way, you can buy earthen lamps in a leafy dona. Both of these things are biodegradable and don’t really pollute the big river in any way. Flowers are sometimes given with it. Seeing hundreds of these diyas, or mud lamps, move down the river is a beautiful sight. The Ganga Aarti is an important ritual in Varanasi and is a must-do experience for anyone visiting the city. The spiritual atmosphere and the visuals make it an unforgettable experience.
Timing
Soon after sunset, the Ganga Aarti begins and lasts for around 45 minutes. Due to the later sunsets in the summer, the Aarti starts at 7 o’clock, whereas in the winter it begins at about 6 o’clock. There are a lot of people at the Dashashwamedh ghat during Ganga Aarti, so you should be responsible for your friends and the things they bring.
How to Reach
The Ganga aarti is done at the famous Dashashwamedh ghat. Kashi Vishwanath Temple is close to Dashashwamedh Ghat. This ghat is accessible to visitors by a variety of means of transportation. Rickshaws are typically the most comfortable way to go to this ghat due to the heavy traffic.
By Air: The closest airport to reach Varanasi is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. About 25.5 kilometers separate Babatpur’s airport from the Dashashwamedh Ghat. You can hire a taxi or take an auto to get to Dashashwamedh Ghat from the airport.
By Road: You must first travel to Godowlia before you can reach Dashashwamedh Ghat. To get to Dashashwamedh Ghat, a number of various road transportation options are available. The Ghat was roughly a 5- to 10-minute walk away after arriving. Only small vehicles, such as bicycle, motorcycle, and occasionally tricycle rickshaws, are permitted to go to the ghat.
By Rail: Dashashwamedh Ghat is around 4.5 kilometres from Varanasi Railway Station. Take an auto rickshaw to a neighboring stop at Rathyatra or Godaulia to reach Dashashwamedh Ghat from the Varanasi Railway Station. It will take you 5 minutes to walk from Godowlia to Dashashwamedh Ghat because driving is now prohibited after this point.
