Ganga Aarti is very famous among all Hindus in India, it is famous because firstly you become free from sins by taking a bath in the river Ganga and secondly by taking part in Ganga Aarti you receive the blessings of Mother Ganga. This happened just after covid19, after the lockdown was lifted, like everyone else I also had to go out and live life like before, so to make myself feel alive, I picked up a small bag and left for Haridwar.
After reaching Delhi, I took a bus to Haridwar, the bus took 6 hours and dropped me at Haridwar in the afternoon. After Covid19, life is slowly coming back on track, everyone in the bus is wearing a mask, I enter the city of Haridwar by showing my covid19 vaccine certificate and start walking towards Har Ki Pauri.
There is not as much crowd here as I had thought but yes, a lot of people had gathered here at the time of Ganga Aarti. First of all I have lunch and rent a cheap room for myself. After keeping my bag, I reach Har ki Pauri and sit at a right place from where I can clearly see the Ganga Aarti.
Ganga is a very famous river of India. It starts from Uttarakhand and falls in the Bay of Bengal and merges into the sea. In this journey, Ganga has to cover a distance of 2525 km. Mention of this historical river is also found in Hindu scriptures. The origin of Ganga is Gangotri glacier which is a 24 km long glacier. Like all rivers in India, Ganga is considered like a mother. The status of mother is given because when there was a shortage of water in India, King Bhagirath performed penance and brought Ganga down from heaven to earth.
The thirst of the countrymen was quenched by the arrival of Ganga on earth, after which Ganga got the status of mother. Today Ganga is such a religious river as no other. Here in Haridwar, Ganga Aarti is performed twice every day. Aarti means “lighting a lamp and praying to the goddess or god so that peace prevails in the world”. This Aarti is performed here twice. I could not see the morning Aarti as I reached late but I will definitely see the evening one.
I am also sitting after taking a bath to witness this Aarti. As the sun is about to set, the preparations for the Aarti at ‘Har Ki Pauri’ have begun. The idol of Maa Ganga is decorated by laying a carpet. All the devotees are sitting in their respective places with folded hands and repeatedly chanting “Har Har Gange”. A lot of positive energy is flowing all around, I am melting in this group energy.
The Aarti begins at 6:30 pm in which everyone praises Ganga, a lamp is lit and flowers are offered to Maa Ganga. People are sitting and singing bhajans and clapping. The sky is covered in pinkish redness and the Ganges river is flowing so peacefully below as if it is fulfilling everyone's wishes. Seeing this religious atmosphere, some people are shedding tears.
The Aarti ends at 7 o'clock and I come to my room after having dinner. I am going to stay here for a few days. This religious city is named Haridwar, Haridwar means "path to reach God". I will stay here and take bath in the Ganges and witness the Ganga Aarti every day. That's all for today, we will meet again, till then keep faith in God.
Disclaimer: This post is originally written in Hindi and I have used Google Translator to tranlate the Hindi text in English. All the photos have been clicked by me from Canon 77D (18-55mm) and edited in Lightroom/photoshop.