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Ganga Aarti at Dasaswamedh ghat, close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, is one of the prime attractions of Varanasi. It starts just after sunset, with a bunch of young men choreographing to the chantings, holding the lamps.
Preparations are on for the evening aarti
People start arriving at the ghats as early as 5pm. Dasaswamedh ghat becomes a hub of activity, with people sitting and waiting for the aarti, buying flowers and other things from nearby shops or performing pooja. I sat listening to an attractive old man who narrated Ramayana to a bunch of tourists who were listening keenly. Several babas sat near the ghats, looking for donations.
Also see:
* Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh
* Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
People wait for the aarti to begin
As the aarti begins, men take their positions at the platform and begin swinging the lamp to the tune of chantings.
Big lamps look beautiful after darkness sets in.
The choreography is excellent and worth seeing. But it also feels artificial in a devitional context. Like anywhere else in India, loudspeakers rob the pleasantness of the evening.
Read more about Varanasi on paintedstork.com
* Images of Varanasi
* Travelling to Varanasi from Corbett
* Arriving at Varanasi
* Many perceptions of Varanasi
* First day at the ghats
* Boat ride on the Ganges
* An encounter on the ghats
* Photo Essay: Ganga Aarti
* Life on the ghats
* About Varanasi
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excellent photographs! I like the third one the best…. when I was there, I couldn’t get close enough to even see it, forget taking snaps
Thanks charu..
Lovely pictures Arun and I admire the patience you showed with the salesman.
I need a help Arun. I want to upgrade my camera, I use a point and shoot Nikon and am thinking of a Nikon D 70 now. But it is just too expensive. Can you suggest some digital SLR or should I cough up for a D70?
I hate to jump in but the D70 is bieng replaced by D80 – a much better camera and will cost around 1000$ but if u r cash strapped go with canon and buy a rebel XT before it is discontinued.
Love the 3rd pic down…looks like a still from a movie…
Arun, Really enjoyed reading your Varanasi trip report. Very informative !
Lavanya
[...] 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 [...]
[...] Ganga aarti at Dasaswamedh ghat+Next: About Varanasi+Go to beginning of the [...]
[...] of Varanasi* First day at the ghats* Boat ride on the Ganges* An encounter on the ghats* Photo Essay: Ganga Aarti* Life on the ghats* About Varanasi If you liked this article, please help India Travel Blog and [...]