अर्थात- गंगा मैया !! आप विश्वरुपिनी हो, नर नारायण स्वरूपी हो, गंगामाई आपको नमस्कार !!
Varanasi is said to be one of the oldest places in the world. It is part of the Sapt Puri, the seven holiest cities in India, which includes Ayodhya, Mathura, Haridwar, Kanchipuram, Ujjain and Dwarka. According to Hindu mythology, Varanasi was established by Lord Shiva himself. When a fight broke out between Shiva and Brahma, Shiva cut off one of the five heads of Brahma. To show his victory to the world, Shiva carried the decapitated head in his hand. He even put a bridle in its mouth, disrespecting Brahma. When Shiva reached the city that we now call Varanasi, the head fell from his hand and disappeared into the ground. Since then, Varanasi has stayed one of the holiest cities for Hindus in India.
A Ganga Aarti-themed wedding incorporates the spiritual and cultural significance of the sacred Ganga River into the celebration, signifying blessings and a divine beginning for the couple.
The ceremony is deeply rooted in Hindu culture and is often performed at ghats (river steps) in cities like Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Haridwar.
Incorporating the Ganga Aarti theme into a wedding signifies the couple's desire to start their married life with divine blessings and a sense of spiritual connection.
Ganga Aarti-themed weddings are gaining popularity in various Indian states.
Ganga is the holiest river in Hindu mythology. This is why it is believed that a dip in the river cleanses your sins. When you visit one of the many ghats at
Varanasi, you will see devotees in large numbers doing “snaan” in the river. For the safety of the people, chains and poles are used to prevent people from
being borne away by the heavy flow of the river. As much as devotees love taking a dip into the river, they also revere it. Every evening, priests of Varanasi
perform an elaborate and extremely beautiful aarti on the ghats of Ganga. The most prominent of these ghats is Dashashwamedh Ghat which is located right next
to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The other ghats where people can watch the Varanasi aarti are Assi Ghat and Rajendra Prasad ghat.
At Dashashwamedh ghat, one moment there’s hustle-bustle about finding the perfect place to watch the aarti, and the other moment the entire city falls
silent when a shankh (conch) is blown. The shankh heralds that the aarti is beginning and it draws everyone’s attention. Since the Ganga aarti of Banaras
is for the River Ganga, a statue of Goddess Ganga is placed in the centre at one of the many raised platforms. With the sound of bells and chants and lighting
of incense sticks and diyas, the aarti is carried on.
The priests worship the River Ganga in such a synchronised manner that it makes for a spellbinding sight. They have been doing it in front of thousands
of people for years now, and the practice and undying devotion make them perfect in what they do. Although it seems precariously risky, the lamps are in safe hands.
This goes on for 45 minutes and it is practically impossible to take your eyes off for even a second.
It is for this reason Varanasi ghat aarti is popular in the entire country. When you visit Varanasi, this is an experience that you cannot miss out on, regardless of the religion you practice.
For a long time, Ganga aarti in Varanasi was performed only in the evening. It was always scheduled for just after the sunset. In summers, it would start around 7 pm,
and around 6 pm during the winters. While the evening aarti is performed with the focus on Dashashwamedh Ghat, the morning aarti is focussed on the Assi Ghat.
Since it starts before dawn and stretches well into the daybreak, it receives less audience than the evening aarti. This has more to do with the timing of the aarti and not because
it is in any way less elaborate. In fact, the morning aarti at Assi Ghat is equally beautiful. Here, it is not just the Ganga Maiyaa who is prayed to but you also enjoy some
Vedic chants, raga, and yoga. The timing of morning Ganga aarti in the summers is from 5 am to 7 am, and in the winters it is 5:30 am to 7:30 am.