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Evening in Rishikesh are for sitting by the Ganges and while away your time. I had a good coffee at Madras Cafe and walked along the quite ghats to spend the time till sunset. Later in the evening, I headed towards Parmarth Niketan Ashram to witness the daily evening ritual of Ganga Aarti.
The place where the aarti is held
The aarti is a pleasant ritual of worshipping the Ganga. Around 50-100 people visit the aarti on any day. I have witnessed Ganga Aarati in other places like Haridwar and Varanasi too, but they are a crowded noisy ritual with loud screaming speakers, people troubling you to make donations or hawkers trying to sell something highly overpriced. The Aarathi at Rishikesh is a contrast to it, held in a small place with a few people and is a relatively quite affair. You can sit quietly in a corner and witness the ritual or join the crowds singing Bhajans with them.
Also see:
* Ganga Aarti in Haridwar
* Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
People assembled for the Aarati
The aarati happens at a very picturesque place on the banks of Ganga, in front of a Shiva statue built on the river. You see some activity beginning at the riverbank around 5pm. People start cleaning up the area, lay carpets in preparation for the aarati. A few people are seen selling deep or diya – a flower bowl with a wick lamp to be floated down the river during the Aarti after prayers. It starts at 5.30pm, with children studying Veda, the Bhajan singers and the performers walking into the ghat in front of Parmarth Niketan. It begins with Bhajans and prayers for ‘Gangaji’ and Shiva.
Diya being sold for the aarti
It is interesting to watch the children as the ritual progresses. They look bright and alive in their saffron robes. Some of them appear oblivious of the whole thing and drift into their own world. A few start a conversation within themselves. Some continue singing the Bhajans with an uninterested face and a few are motionless, just sitting there or staring blankly. There are some who are completely immersed in the Bhajans and join everyone with full enthusiasm, singing and clapping loudly with the rhythm.
Children Praying at the Aarti
As the sun sets and it gets slightly darker, the Shiva statue is lighted up and it looks beautiful. The aarti continues with lamps in various shapes and sizes lighted up, and passed on from people to people.
Shiva statue lit after sunset
Performing the Aarti
The whole place lights up to a spirited mood with lamps swinging in the hands of people. It lasts for an hour and winds up around 6.30 in the evening with the notes of “jai jai radharamana hari bol…”
More on Rishikesh at paintedstork.com
* Rishikesh photo gallery
* Arriving at Rishikesh.
* Walking around Laxman Jhula
* Ganga Aarthi at Rishikesh
* Photo Essay: Babas of Rishikesh
* Rishikesh to Kaudiyala
* About Rishikesh
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lovely arun! nice pictures too. loved the one of the kid engrossed in singing bhajans! this looks so much more pleasant than the melee at haridwar! that was really horrible and all the charm was robbed when those idiots kept coming up and asking for money!! next time, i am going to spend more time in rishikesh
thanks Anita
Pic “Shiva statue lit after sunset” got some mysterious charm…I dont know…..something attracts me to see it again and again….
Hey
Great entry!The pictures and your commentary made me feel like I was there!
Just wanted to say, “Kudos”!
Veda
Really nice work… Photography is excellent… looks purely professional.
This entry certainly is inspiring and I hope many travel and witness this.
The devotion is to be experienced to be believed and yes, can convert you to practicing some rituals in daily life !
May you put up more such entries on our religious spots.
Mahadeva !
Great, it just reminded me of my two weeks full of aarti at the gangaji, wonderful pictures. Thank you, and I totally agree with your expereiences.
Jai ma!
Moritz
excellent photographs…
Thank you tiabtiab.
when i went there in August 2006 I for the first time FELT India’s spiritual roots. I was quite normal when the Aarti started however within 5 minutes my eyes were swelling and tears rolling down as the Ganges does down the Himlayas. Its an awesome experience listening to this aarti at the banks of the ganges with those young boy priests, those lighted lamps and people huddled together swinging to the tunes of a touching melody. Beautiful unforgetable and my first tryst with our spirituality after over 38 years of existence in our great country.
jai maa
[...] about Rishikesh on paintedstork.com 1. Arriving at Rishikesh. 2. Walking around Laxman Jhula 3. Ganga Aarthi at Rishikesh 4. Photo Essay: Babas of Rishikesh 5. Rishikesh to Kaudiyala 6. About [...]
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[...] not get any bus from Chilla to Rishikesh and had to do a broken journey via Haridwar. Also see:* Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh* Ganga Aarti in [...]
[...] who were listening keenly. Several babas sat near the ghats, looking for donations. Also see:* Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh* Ganga Aarti in [...]
[...] at paintedstork.com* Rishikesh photo gallery* Arriving at Rishikesh.* Walking around Laxman Jhula* Ganga Aarthi at Rishikesh* Photo Essay: Babas of Rishikesh* Rishikesh to Kaudiyala* About Rishikesh Share Subscribe to India [...]