Aarti Ceremony "The Ceremony of Lights" In Rishikesh

As the sun sets this lovely ceremony is carried out every evening with chants, music, fire, the burning of little flower boats and releasing them into the Ganges with prayers to the gods. While the ceremony is under way it is being observed by a large illuminated sculpture of Shiva - the destroyer. Being near to the Ganges at this festival feels very special, so many people travel from all over India to pray and you can feel the devotion that goes into this river. I released one of the candles and it got about 2 mtrs away from me and capsized and sunk, boooo, though I like to pretend to myself that it is still floating down the Ganges.