5 Best Ganga Aarti in India – Origin, Places, Holy Activities
Best Ganga Aarti in India – Origin, Places, Holy Activities Must Watch
The reborn day of Ma Ganga is Ganga Saptami was the 18th of May when it came onto earth after releasing from the locks of Lord Shiva.
On the day of Ganga Saptami, a large number of Hindu devotees visit different holy places in India to worship the Ganga Aarti from different parts of the world.
In this article, we explored five of the best places to do Ganga Aarti, especially on Ganga Saptami:
- Mathura
- Rishikesh
- Haridwar
- Varanasi
- Prayagraj
1. Ganga Aarti at Mathura
A large number of Hindu devotees visit Mathura to participate in Ganga Aarti and take a holy bath in it. This is the belief of Hindus that anyone who takes a dip in this River is relieved from all kinds of sin and goes to heaven after death.
The serene view, clanging bells, lights and hymns make this place so delightful which attracts tourists from all over the world.
Due to the heavy rush of Hindu religious devotees, the significance and popularity of this place and also the coming of other tourists from around the world this place always remains overcrowded.
2. Ganga Aarti at Rishikesh
In Rishikesh, the Parmarth Niketan and Triveni Ghats are famous as prime locations among various other ghats to worship Ma Ganga by doing its traditional Aarti.
The eye-catching Aarti of Goddess Ganga is performed daily between 6 pm to 7 pm according to ISD. The scenery from Ganga Ghats offers a unique view of the beauty of this place by seeing a large number of diyas floating in it which are lit by fire.
The chant of bells, singing of religious mantras and songs and a large number of fired diyas make this place a perfect holy destination where lots of Hindu devotees and tourists visit from all over the world to get the blessings of Goddess Ganga.
These chant of Vedic mantras are performed by the priests and the children who learnt the vadas from various religious schools and ashrams.
This religious Aarti of Goddess Ganga includes prayers, chanting of mantras, singing of religious bhajans and other sacred and traditional rituals. These all rituals are performed around the holy fire which is believed to spread positivity all over the environment.
3. Ganga Aarti at Haridwar
The Aarti of Goddess Ganga is performed at the most famous Ghat known as Har ki Pauri located at the bank of Ma Ganga in the religious city Haridwar situated in Uttrakhand state of India.
Though the accurate period of the performance of Ganga Aarti is not known it is believed that it was first initiated at Har ki Pauri by Pt. Madam Mohan Malviya in the year 1910-11 who is also a known freedom fighter.
It is the firm belief of the Hindus that the Ganga is not only the river but is famous for its holiness which gives divine water to all mankind. The taking of a holy bath or merely a dip in it removes from all the dins and therefore the Ganga Aarti is performed to pay regards and thanks to her.
About 2,500 to 30,000 Hindu devotees and tourists visit this place every evening to participate in this religious event.
The number of tourists who visit this place can be extended to one lakh or even more at some important festivals when this place is covered with a heavy rush. The state government with the help of various NGOs and voluntary organisations manage and controls them.
4. Ganga Aarti at Varanasi
Known as a part of Sapt Puri (seven most religious places in India) Varanasi is supposed to be the oldest city in the whole world. This city is believed to be created by the Hindu god Lord Shiva.
To show his strength to the world lord Shiva cut five heads of God Bharama during the fight between them and carried the beheaded heads in his hand and even put a part thereof in his mouth to show his hate.
The main reason is that these heads of God Bharama fell on the earth from the hands of the Hindu lord God Shiva and disappeared. Since then this place has been called a very religious city Varanasi.
Now, the holy Ganga Aarti is performed at this place continuously for thousands of years and a large number of Hindu devotees and tourists participate in this event. This religious Aarti of Goddess Ganga is performed at the time of sunset and takes about 45 to 50 minutes to complete.
When a tourist visits this place he witnessed a beautiful and eye-catching view of Ganga Aarti and the devotees taking baths or dip in Ganga arranged by different ghats. The proper safety measures are taken by the state government and others by installing safety chains and poles to refrain the devotees to go beyond the safe area.
The Dashmesh Ghat situated near Kashi Vishwanath Temple is the most famous Ghat from where the Ganga Aarti is performed. The Rajinder Prashad Ghat and the Assi Ghat are also the most famous ghats where the Ganga Aarti is performed.
5. Ganga Aarti at Prayagraj
Known as Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj is one of the most religious places in India. This holy city is situated at a distance of about 9 Km from the Allahabad Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh state of North India.
Because of the combination of three holy rivers named Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, this place is called the Triveni Sangam. The river Saraswati is supposed been invisible for about last 4010 years due to its water was dried.
Triveni Sangam is also known for the unique festival the Kumbh Mela in which an uncontrollable number of devotees visit and it falls once in twelve years. The Naga Sadhu (holy man) who remains nude throughout their life and takes a bath in the holy Sangam is the main point of attraction of this place.
Like other religious places viz Mathura, Rishikesh, and Varanasi the Ganga Aarti is also performed here almost in the same cultural and traditional way. The religious pandits do the Aarti of Goddess Ganga every evening by speaking mantras, chanting bells, and singing holy bhajans.
The scenery of this holy Ganga Aarti can uncontrol the nerve of any devotee or tourist. Therefore, a large number of Hindu devotees and tourists visit this place to participate in the Ganga Aarti and also to take a holy dip in Triveni Sangam.
In Short: Every Hindu has the desire to visit these religious places to participate in the holy Ganga Aarti and take a holy bath or a dip therein to eliminate all his/her sins. The Hindu devotees also want to visit Varanasi to participate in Ganga Aarti and take a bath in it to relive from the circle of birth and death.
