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Best Ways to Experience the Varanasi Ganga Aarti
Being one of the oldest living cities in the world, Varanasi is all about divinity. Hindu mythology states that Lord Shiva himself established the city.
What made me fall in love with Varanasi and visit it three times is the way spirituality is presented!
In Varanasi, AKA Banaras, spirituality comes alive not only in puja rituals but also in street art and the worship of the sacred Ganges with the “Ganga Aarti.”
I am not exaggerating here; witnessing the Varanasi Ganga Aarti can be the sole reason for your Varanasi trip.
However, some people might say the Ganga Aarti is overrated. I understand why they might feel that way. If they made the same mistake I did during my second trip, there’s no way they could have enjoyed it!
There are a few things you should know before planning your day around the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi to enjoy it at its best. Otherwise, you might end up whining like others (or like me during my second trip). This post is all about how to get the best experience of the Ganga Aarti ceremony at the Varanasi ghats.
This post is all about how to get the best experience of the Ganga Aarti ceremony at the Varanasi ghats, with tips from a Banaras lover and expert.
Facts about Ganga river
Born in the Himalayan mountains at Gaumukh, the Ganga (Ganges) flows over 2,500 km with the help of other perennial rivers like Alakananda, Bhagirathi and meets the Bay of Bengal in West Bengal. – Truly India’s lifeline?so she deserves to be treated with utmost respect.
Scientifically, some say this river is no older than 10,000 years.
Why Ganga Aarti is done
According to us, Hindus, Ganga descended from Lord Shiva’s matted hair to answer the prayers of King Bhagiratha, becoming a lifeline and a means to cleanse the sins of humanity.
The Ganga Aarti, a daily ritual to show gratitude for washing our sins, is held at several locations along the river, including Rishikesh, Haridwar, and Varanasi. The grandest and most significant Aarti is in Varanasi,
The 50-60 minute ceremony showcases the five elements of nature. A priest in our guesthouse explained
- Fire (Agni) is shown with beautiful burning lamps,
- Earth with flower petals
- Water
- Space (Akash) with a fan made from yak tail whisks,
- Wind (Vayu) with Dhoopam
Who performs Ganga Aarti in Varanasi
The ritual is performed by young priests (usually 5) from the Gangotri Seva Samiti, dressed in silky almond and white robes, with red pullovers during the winter months.
They have their own rules on which priest is eligible to perform based on their level of studies in Hindu priesthood. Common people can watch and sing along, but they can’t perform the Ganga Aarti during the rituals.
The priests’ actions are perfectly synchronized and performed in every direction, so everyone gets a good view of the Aarti, no matter where they’re seated. Sanskrit shlokas are chanted with music throughout the ritual, creating the perfect backdrop for this spiritual experience.
So there is never a dull moment, always enchanting and no wonder we attended 3 Ganga Aarti ceremonies on consecutive days during our week trip in Varanasi.
Who started ganga aarti in Varanasi
After the Ganga River became severely polluted in 1985, a few dedicated people resolved to perform daily morning and evening aarti to restore faith in Maa Ganga. This led to the establishment of Ganga Seva Nidhi, who began the amazing ritual of the Evening Ganga Aarti Ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat.
Being a lifeline to India, river Ganga deserves all the respect. People refer to her as “Maa,” but after 1985, the physical state of the river deteriorated, especially around Dashashwamedh Ghat. People used to let dead bodies float on the Ganga, believing that the deceased would attain moksha (liberation) because they were being carried by the sacred river ( I have seen it when I visited Kashi in 1996)
The trust also started creating awareness and cleaning campaigns along with aarti ceremony. The aarti wasn’t popular until the late 1990s, but now it is surely a ceremony to honour Ganga and a spectacular visual treat for visitors.
Where does Ganga Aarti happen in Varanasi?
Ganga Aarti in Varanasi happens at two spots
- Dashashwamedh Ghat : This is where the main evening aarti takes place. It’s a grand ceremony that attracts big crowds every night ( And our favourite). Along with sanskrit chants, they also use a bit of recorded music as part of the ceremony
- Assi Ghat : The morning aarti, called “Subah-E-Banaras,” happens here. It’s a serene and peaceful ceremony that kicks off the day at dawn – You get to hear a lot of chants by Sanskrit learning STUDENTS and puja rituals by pandits.
Apart from this, Munshi Ghat also hosts an evening Ganga Aarti. We attended it for a while but found it too tacky and loud, so we left and went to the aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. There’s a story about how one of the members from the main aarti ceremony deviated from the trust and started this separate event.
At what time Ganga aarti start in varanasi
The morning Ganga Aarti at Assi Ghat is from 5 to 7 am in summer, and from 5:30 to 7:30 am in winter.
Evening aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat starts around 7 pm in summer, and around 6 pm in winter.
What is Ganga Aarti Tickets Cost / Entry Fee ?
There’s no entrance fee or ticket required to watch the Ganga Aarti ceremony in Varanasi?it’s free for everyone. You might find some tours online, but they’re not necessary – It is just a trap,because coming to ceremony spot by yourself is super easy.
If you’re staying in one of the guesthouses on the ghats, like we did, or in Bangali Tola, you can easily walk down to Dashashwamedh Ghat using maps on your phone. If you’re coming from the town area, hire a cycle rickshaw to drop you about 100 metres from Dashashwamedh Ghat. From there, take the steps down to the ceremony area and grab the best possible seats – more on how to grab the best seats below.
Unless you want to watch the aarti from a boat (which we absolutely don’t recommend), you don’t need to pre-book or pay anything to watch the Varanasi Ganga Aarti.
What is the best spot to watch the evening Ganga Aarti?
The best spot to watch the evening Ganga Aarti ceremony at Dashashwamedh Ghat is right beside or behind the ceremony platform itself. The worst spot is sitting in a boat to watch it. I have done both, and I will tell you why.
Don’t watch Ganga Aarti from Boat
During my second trip to Varanasi, my parents and I were excited to witness the evening Aarti ceremony. A friend of my dad suggested we take an evening boat ride that started at 4:30 pm.
The boat passed by all the ghats and stopped in front of Dashashwamedh Ghat where the ceremony takes place, but 50 metres away! We literally felt like we were watching tiny bulbs or stars moving in the air.
We couldn’t hear any chants, see any lamps clearly, or feel the dhoop smoke!
Plus, my mother had forgotten her spectacles, so she barely saw anything at all. If you fall into the trap of the “Ganga Aarti boat ride,” you won’t see much and might think the magical ceremony is overrated.
It is best to take boat rides in the morning or afternoon, Don’t even think of watching Ganga aarti ceremony from boat.
How to get to the Location of Main Aarti ceremony?
The ghats aren’t big enough to get lost in. So, if you arrive at Dashashwamedh Ghat, you’ll easily spot the main Aarti ceremony area since it’s cleared and set up well in advance. Rows of white seats face the Ganga, and there are low platforms covered with cloth and cordoned off between the seats and the Aarti area.
Seating arrangement for the ceremony
The aarti platform is set up so that the priests stand on a one-foot-high wooden platform covered with carpets at the edge of the last landing of the ghat, facing the river. Seating for pilgrims is arranged on three sides around the platform.
The middle platform is for the musicians, and some of the others might have “Reserved” signs ( it is for those who has donated or offered a big chunk for the trust). If a platform doesn’t have a sign, you’re good to sit there and wait for the ritual to start.
So, for us, the side aisles beside the platform were our favourite spots -You can see every lamp and other Puja equipments closer. Plus you can see all the five priests performing puja at one shot.
The seating behind the platform isn’t as bad as you think. Because the priests occasionally turn in all four directions, though they mainly focus on the Ganga River in front.
How to find a good spot to enjoy Varanasi Ganga Aarti?
The first two rows on these sides are the best. For us, the seats along the short side were the best. Grabbing these seats can be tricky, but it’s not rocket science. Timing is crucial, so you need reach the ceremony ghat at the platform at least an hour before the Aarti begins.
We did this on all three days, and waiting for an hour was never boring. Dashashwamedh Ghat is one of the most happening ghats and the best place for people-watching.
Be aware that once the ritual begins, moving to a different location is nearly impossible due to the crowd. It’s best to find a good spot beforehand and stay there for the entire ceremony.
Etiquettes to follow while watching evening Ganga Aarti ceremony
- Stay Quiet: Maintain silence during the ceremony to respect the spiritual atmosphere.
- No Flash Photography: Turn off your camera flash to avoid disturbing others and the priests.
- Respect Seating Arrangements: Don’t occupy reserved seats or platforms without permission.
- Avoid Blocking Views: Be mindful of others’ views when taking photos or moving around.
- No Littering: Keep the area clean and dispose of any waste properly.
- Dress Modestly: Wear appropriate clothing that respects the cultural and religious significance of the event.
- No Food or Drink: Avoid eating or drinking during the ceremony – There will be plenty of delicious street food and cafes even at night. So don’t eat during the ceremony
- Stay till the end : Although there is no restriction or law to make you sit, it is rude to walk away from the ritual in the middle
- Respect the Priests: Allow the priests to perform the rituals without interference.
- No Post-Ceremony Photos: Don’t treat the priests like photo props after the ceremony . Many of them don’t like to be part of your selfies and it’s important to respect their devotion and dedication.
The only annoying thing about the Varanasi Ganga ceremony is the insensitive crowd. The younger crowd often wants to dance or act devotionally while the ceremony is going on to create content for their social media.
Then there are the older people (50 and above) who are always on video calls, showing the ceremony to their loved ones at home. Both groups end up blocking the view for everyone else – and quite annoying.
You can boldly scold these irresponsible fellows and ask them to sit if they disturb you a lot.
When I first attended the aarti ceremony, we had a camera. A random girl in her 20s asked if I could click her photos, make videos, and send them to her?she wanted it for her reels. When I said no, she even bugged me, asking for our videos so she could get more views. I really had to use the sentence “Leave me alone”
Tips to take Varanasi Ganga Aarti Photos
- Using a good camera (if you know how to use them beyond clicking using auto setting) is better than phones for Ganga Aarti photos due to the dark background in the evening.
- Platforms close to the action are great for photography, with the night sky over the Ganga as the backdrop.
- Main challenge: separating the subject from the bright background.
- Turn off your camera flash; it’s irritating and won’t improve shots.
- The best position to capture a good frame is from the sides – You can capture all priests at once.
- If you take the central seating, most of the time you will be capturing the back of priests.
- Avoid boats for photography; they make subject/background separation harder.
- Use a variety of lens focal lengths, from 24mm to 200mm.
- The ritual involves lots of slow hand movements with fire, lamps, flowers and smoke – So it isn’t hard to capture a non-blurry photo, but you need to set a right shutter speed.
- Camera settings: Use a low f-stop and a high ISO to achieve a shutter speed of at least 1/100th of a second, or faster if your camera isn’t stabilized.
- Use small tripod stands to make videos – The tall ones can be annoying for other devotees watching the ceremony.
Found our tips on how to experience Varanasi Ganga Aarti at it’s best? Let us know in the comment section below.
which lens should i use to shoot dashashwmedh ghat morning and evening aarti,and which lens should i use to shoot assi ghat morning and evening aarti
Hi. we are ameture phographers, so I can tell you what we did. We used Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 for evening aarti-worked well for low light, avoid the crowd when we sat slightly afar (may be 3m behind the stage). And. the next day when we. sat right beside the aarti platform we had 18-55mm.