Ganga Aarti

The river Ganga is a Goddess in Indian mythology.

Ganga Aarti is a nightly ritual performed on the banks of the Ganga. Diya, or lamps, are passed out to the devotees and then floated along the river with offerings of flowers. The hymn Maa Ganga Aarti is sung.

I went to this ritual on my third evening in Rishikesh. It was a beautiful and rich experience. Afterwards, I tossed an object of negativity into the fire pit, and bathed my feet in the Ganga. The current was unexpectedly strong and I lost grip of the socks in my hands and nearly did not catch them again.

The river Ganga also suffers from pollution from many sources, including plastic waste. Currently, efforts are being made by the Save Ganga Movement to clean the river.