Having heard so much about the ganga aarti at the dashvamedh ghat, we ventured out for it one evening and couldn’t have asked for a better spend of our time while in Banaras.

The ghat was all prepped up with seven prayer stations set up on raised platforms, each framed by an arch; for the seven Brahmins who would conduct the aarti.

People were seated on the ghat steps and on the boats below. We opted for a boat view and glad that we did. On enquiring, we were told that the crowd consisted of only tourists and that was a surprise for us.

The entire scenario was sane and organised; no pushing and no waiting. And no overt noise or confusion anywhere.

The ceremony started with a traditional shankhnaad (blowing of conch shell) and then mantra chanting. The rising smoke of the incense and camphor seemed to drape each priest in a mystique while they performed the steps fluidly. The crowds, sounds of the aarti, temple bells, conch shell, the chanting and the gentle rocking of the boat – it was surreal.

Feeling calm and quiet, I wondered is this spirituality?

Notes

• The aarti starts at 6 pm every evening and finishes by 6.45 pm.
• One can sit in any of the moored boats for a fee of 20/-

Intrigued to read more? You can check out my guest post on Ganga Arti here 

You could also hop across to this post which details the joys or Ras or Banaras