Aarti is derived from the Sanskrit word aratrika meaning something that removes the darkness. Arti in Hindus is an essential part of puja or worshiping deities. Aarti includes the light (especially the flame), songs or mantras or bhajans being sung during the time of aarti. An aarti is a devotional ritual of Hindus.
The most famous is the GANGA AARTI which is the aarti devoted to the worship of the holiest river MAA GANGA. Maa Ganga is worshiped usually with a lit lamp i.e. Diya with the flowers around it being floated in the river Ganga.
The Ganga aarti is mainly performed in the three holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi in INDIA.
The aarti is carried out facing the river Ganga, with the lamps lit i.e. beautiful lamps lit, the priests(or pandits) chanting and worshiping songs in devotion to maa Ganga.
After the aarti people cup their hands above the lamp and then raise their hands on the forehead to gain the blessings of the maa Ganga. The Ganga aarti happens every evening in the holy cities of Haridwar, Rishikesh, and Varanasi in INDIA irrespective of the weather with all the different rites and rituals.
Let's have an overlook of the Ganga aarti at different places :
HARIDWAR GANGA AARTI
The HARIDWAR GANGA AARTI takes place in the Har- ki-Paudi ghat which has the same significance as that of the Dashashwamedh Ghat where the aarti takes place in Varanasi. People say they are the most crowded and noisy places to visit. But the people belonging to the Hindu religion find it the most sacred and peaceful place to spend their evenings.
RISHIKESH GANGA AARTI
The most famous Ganga aarti in Rishikesh takes place on the bank of the river at Parmarth Niketan ashram. It is much more relaxing and soothing as compared to the Haridwar and Varanasi Ganga aartis. The most special part of the aarti here is that the aarti is not done by the priests, instead, it is done by the ashram residents, particularly the children who are studying the Vedas there. They sing songs, and bhajans and chant mantras altogether.
VARANASI GANGA AARTI
The Varanasi Ganga Aarti takes place every sunset at the holy Dasaswamedh Ghat, near Kashi Vishwanath Temple. This is the most planned or synchronized Ganga aarti. The young pandits stand on a stage, wearing saffron clothes, with their puja plates in front of them. The movement of the plates in pandits hands is synchronized completely with the rhythmic bhajans they do sing.
