Ganga Aarti

The Ganga Aarti is a daily ritual in which offerings are made to Maa Ganga, goddess of the most holy river in India. The ritual is performed in three cities in India and Rishikesh happens to be one of them.

 As dusk descends, people gather to Parmarth Niketan. 

At Parmath Niketan.  Here is the entrance of the site where Aarti takes place.

The International Yoga Festival was just the week before.  The banners were still up.

Hanuman, watching the whole affair.

that's what's up.

The ceremony commences with the singing of bhajans (devotional songs), prayers, and a hawan. A hawan is a purifying and sacred ritual that takes place around a fire, with the offerings made to Agni, the fire god. Lamps and offerings are lit and sent down the river.

During the hawan

The bouquet bowl is lighted and sent floating down the river.