Have you seen the grand Ganga Aarti of Varanasi? If not, believe me then you should. Varanasi (or Banaras) is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city has serene ghats, delicious food, ringing temple bells, a spiritual ambience, graceful Banarasi sarees, and the Ganga river.

If you haven't seen Varanasi's Ganga Aarti till now, these real life pictures of Ganga Aarti will urge you to visit Varanasi. Just make sure to book hourly hotels in Varanasi from MiStay so that you can check-in at anytime you want! Now, let's dive into the magic of the Ganga Aarti.

The Grand Ganga Aarti of Varanasi (Image Source: www.travelwisesr.com)

I. What is Ganga Aarti?

Ganga Aarti is the process of praying & thanking Goddess Ganga. Her divine water is believed to be a blessing for the habitants of the Earth. Three dips in the Ganga water are said to release a person from their sins & help in the liberation from the rebirth cycle. That's why, the Ganga Aarti is an significant ritual of Varanasi. Moreover, the Ganga aarti in the spiritual city of Varanasi has its own pleasures. You can visit ghats, spiritual places, temples, and much more. So, when are you going? Pack your bags, book a hotel for a few hours in Varanasi & enjoy the sight of the Ganga Aarti.

The Evening Aarti at Dashashwamedha Ghat (Image Source: Pexels)

II. At what place did the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi take place?

The priests perform the Ganga Aarti at many ghats in Varanasi. But if you want to watch the most spectacular one, visit Dashashwamedh Ghat. In this ghat, you can watch the most elaborated & decorated Ganga aarti ritual. The site is to be quoted as a must-see ceremony once in a lifetime! So, irrespective of your beliefs, if you are visiting Varanasi, book hourly hotels & visit the Dashashwamedha ghat for an incredible experience. Make sure to schedule a hotel for a few hours in Allahabad & savor the similar Ganga Aarti at Triveni Ghat.

The other Varanasi ghats where you can experience similar eye-catching views are the Assi Ghat, Kedar Ghat & Rajendra Prasad Ghat.

The Ganga Aarti in progress with ringing bells & incense ignition (Image Source: Pexels)

III. How do the priests perform the Ganga Aarti?

First, Priests keep the idol of the Goddess Ganga river on an elevated platform made from wooden cots. They welcome the goddess by offering flowers & red and orange vermilion while chanting mantras. Then, they light up incense cones & sticks and circulate them in front of the idol to pay respects. After that, Ganga aarti starts. All the priests rotate large & weighted lamps and sing the aarti lines alongside.

Such a synchronized process will make you lost in that magical moment. People fold their hands & head bow in gratitude! After the aarti, the priests sing some Sanskrit hymns & bhajans to seek blessings from the Ganga river. In the end, the loud sound of the conch shell concludes the 40-45 minute ritual. Sounds fascinating, right? So, plan and save your bucks by booking hotels for a few hours in Varanasi from MiStay.

People sitting at the ghat for watching the spectacular Ganga Aarti (Image Source: Unsplash)

IV. Timings of the Ganga Aarti

The Ganga Aarti in Varanasi takes place in the evenings for a long time. Since 2014, the morning Ganga Aarti has started. Evening timings of the aarti start ritual are around 5:15 pm -5:30 pm in winter & 6:45 pm - 7 pm in summer. Morning aarti start timings are 5 am - 5:20 am in summer & 5:30 am- 5:40 am in winter. So, make sure to book hourly hotels in Varanasi near the ghats to reach the ghat on time. You can travel to Allahabad to see the breathtaking Ganga aarti near Sangam. Save your money by booking hourly hotels in Allahabad from MiStay that makes you pay only for the time you stay.

The Morning Aarti (Image Source: Unsplash)

V. Morning Aarti

Morning Ganga Aarti is also known as Subah-e-Banaras. The procedure of the aarti in the morning is the same as that of the evening. The only difference is that after the morning aarti, you can enjoy the performances of classical dancers & singers from Varanasi Gharana. The morning aarti ritual is an initiative of the state government of Uttar Pradesh that started in 2014. In the morning, you get a better view of the aarti proceedings as people are fewer during that time. So, book a hotel for a few hours in Varanasi & experience this peaceful sight.

The Evening Aarti (Image Source: Unsplash)

VI. Evening Aarti

The fascinating sight of the Ganga aarti is in the evening time. Seven selected priests stand on the respective wooden platforms and perform the Ganga aarti. First, saffron kameez & dhoti clad priests start the hymns from Vedas & then aarti follows. While doing the aarti, they waved the large-sized tiered metal lamps in a circular motion. After the aarti, while reciting mantras, they wave incense cones & sticks, brass lamps with snake hoods, and yak-tail fans in all four directions in a well-choreographed process.

Feeling awe-struck, naa! Pack your bags, visit the sacred city, and rest in day-use hotels in Varanasi. You can also travel to Allahabad from Varanasi. Just make sure to book hotels for a few hours in Allahabad from MiStay that help you get flexible check-in.

Preparations before the Aarti (Image Source: Unsplash)

Final Words

In the end, I want to share with you some traveling tips. You can make donations to the Ganga Sabha & various social work organizations. Just make sure that you take a valid receipt for the same. There are cases of people getting spammed there.
If you want a better view & pictures of the famous Ganga Aarti, you need to come at least an hour early & book your seats on the rented boats, shop's roofs, etc. The morning Ganga aarti witnesses less crowd than the evening one. So, plan accordingly and book an hourly hotel in Varanasi for your economical stay.