Ganga Aarti Puja

An Aarti is a devotional ritual that uses fire as an offering. Ganga Aarti usually made in the form of a lit lamp, and in the case of the Ganges River, a small diya with a candle and flowers that’s floated down the river. The offering is made to the Goddess Ganga, also affectionately referred to as Maa Ganga, goddess of the holiest river in India. TheGanga Aarti takes on special significance on the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra (usually in May each year), when Maa Ganga is believed to have descended from heaven to earth.

In India, the Ganga (or Ganges) is considered not only a holy river, but also a goddess in its own right. Worship of the Ganga River as a deity has its roots in Hindu tradition, which believes that washing oneself in its waters will cleanse the body and mind from sin.

Ganga Aarti Benefits:

• This Aarti purifies the souls of devotees.
• It Cures diseases and ailments.
• Ganga Aarti Washes away the sins of devotees and gives peace to the souls of their ancestors.
• Ganga Aarti helps one attain Moksha or liberation of the soul.

Ganga Aarti is a spectacular ceremony that takes place everyday in the 3 holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi which are located on the banks of the river Ganga. The  Aarti is performed everyday at the Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh and Hari-ki-Pauri Ghat in Haridwar at the bank of the holy river Ganga. It is a major highlight of the ghats, which attracts a large number of devotees and visitors.

The worship of Maa Ganga is one of the most important rituals in Hinduism. Each evening, thousands of devotees gather at the banks of the Ganga at Haridwar and Rishikesh to witness the spectacle known as the ‘Ganga Aarti’, which pays homage to the greatness of this river.