India is a mystical land. There are various rituals in India and one of the strong and intense rituals is that of the Ganga Aarti.

Every evening Ganga Aarti is carried out in three holy cities of India. They are Haridwar, Rishikesh and Varanasi. All three of the have different vibes and energies. I took this photo from Dashaswamedh ghat at Varanasi. The Ganga Aarti ceremony held every evening at the Dasaswamedh ghat at Varanasi is one of the most spectacular devotional rituals carried out in the world.

The Aarti is always carried out facing the river Ganga. A lot of lamps are lit during the aarti. They are usually circled out by priests. It is always done clockwise. The aarti is always accompanied by different songs sung while praising the Ganga. It is believed that the lamps acquire the power of the deity. The whole aarti is a visual treat. The colors in a frame are worth a watch.