Ganga's Aarti Sunset Ceremony

Overview

By tradition Hindus have great faith in the ritual of cleansing oneself with a ritual dip in the waters of the holy Ganga to rid themselves of their sins; this allows them to may arrive in the presence of their gods, free of this burden and to be to focus completely on their devotions of the deity. The sacred ghats of Varanasi are imbued with the rich symbolism of these practices. One of the most important ceremonies is the aarti, held both in the morning and evening to celebrate the gods and the divine river. The ghats also serve as a sacred space for the funerary rites and ritual for the dead. For centuries practising Hindus have believed it is most auspicious to die or be cremated in  Varanasi by the holy Ganga if they want to achieve moksha or release from the cycle of death and rebirth. It is believed that Lord Shiva, who resides here, himself intervenes and whispers the secret mantra in your ear, which gives a devoted Hindu that release from this endless cycle.

The tour takes you on a boat ride past the ghats including Manikarnika, where the funerary pyres are lit with chanting of prayers and centuries-old rites. You will also witness the atmospheric evening aarti held daily at sunset at the ancient Dasashwamedh Ghat.

Why you will love it

• The magical quality of the evening begins as the sun cascades across the city skyline.
• First, a trip to the eerie cremation grounds of Manikarnika to be seen from both the boat and the shore.
• As darkness descends, we place lamps in the water, preparing ourselves to witness the fire-worship of the river as a goddess at Dasashwamedh Ghat.

What you will experience

We will catch an early-evening boat ride to admire the amazing Ganga Aarti held daily at Dasashwamedha Ghat. We will listen to the stories and legends of the rituals that have been used for centuries inside temples and in shrines along the river. The tour takes us to Manikarnika Ghat, which along with the Harishchandra Ghat has witnessed the burning of the funeral pyres of Hindus for centuries.