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Ganga Aarti
At sundown, every evening, Ganga Aarti is
performed on the ghats of Varanasi. Although all
of them can give you an extraordinary
experience, the most magnificent and the
spectacular one happens at the
Dashashwamedh Ghat. The aarti commences as
dawn descends, around 6 PM in winters and 7
PM in summers, to be precise. Devotees usually
gather 90 minutes in advance to find
themselves a suitable spot. The spectacle is
viewed from the ghat steps, from the rooftops of
the nearby houses and shops and also from the
boats loaded at the riverbanks, all of which offer
the best views.
It can also be viewed from the rooftop of the
organizing committee's office- Gnaga Seva
Nidhi. The Aarti takes place on seven wooden
planks, each of which is decorated with saffron
clothes and Pooja items including incense
sticks, conch shells, brass lamps, etc.
The pooja is performed by seven pandits which
involve rhythmic chanting of mantras, hymns
and prayers in the praises of river Ganga. Millions
of spectators gather to witness the most
mesmerising and glorious event of Varanasi. The
assembly is a confluence of faith, cultures and
traditions coming from all parts of India and
even abroad. The aarti ends with the blowing
conch shells and lighting of camphor lamps.
The whole spectacle takes around 45 minutes,
by the end of which you can see the pandits, the
pilgrims and the tourists dispersing and the
solidarity and the silence of the river restored.