Audience on boats

Evening Arti Puja

One of the most beautiful events in Varanasi is the evening arti puja. It is an offering ceremony to different deities as well as to mother Ganges, offerings include incense, light, music and flowers. There are a total of 12 stages with 12 Brahmin's dressed in gold silk and maroon, each offering the substances in unison and with delicate hands mudras ( gestures). The centre stage alter has a statue of  a gold Natraaj and Mother Ganga statue. The whole ghat , as well as the boats on the river are packed with pilgrims and tourist, snapping pictures, watching trance like or singing along with mantras and praises. Just beautiful and it reminds me that ultimately we humans are at the mercy of nature and the elements and that we need to show more respect to mother natures power.

offering of insence

evening crowd

offering of lights