Aarti Haridwar Louise&Stuart's Amazing India

Aarti in HaridwareNamasteThe banks of the Ganges crowded with hundreds of people bathing in the holy Ganga. Aarti, like the religious ceremony celebrated in Varanasi, starts at sunset. We were surprised when by 6PM both sides of the Ganges were nearly full. By 6:30 there were literally thousands of Indians there to celebrate Arti! I have attended Arti in Haridwar many many times, but this was like New Year's Eve at an Indian Times Square! It seems that tonight was special...Ganga's Birthday.....and when the Ganges River has a birthday, it goes all out!We managed to get a place to sit right at the main ghats. Out of thousands of Indians, there are only about 10 foreigners MAX in all of Haridwar at this time of year! Maybe it's because at 4:30 PM the sun is shining on the ghats like high noon on the hottest day of the year!

Evening, however, iscool and wonderful on the river, which is all lit up and festive. That is when the place really comes to life. Daytime is for "dipping in the Ganges", and for kids diving for coins that worshipers toss in the cool, refreshing water.

As we sat awaiting the music which heralds the start of Aarti, a speaker announced the arrival of a special Guru. He arrived with an entourage and was greeted with cheers and waving hands. Behind him were men carrying a golden "Ark of the Covenant" type of shrine on a platform. It was festooned with bushels of flowers, which were thrown out and handed by the handfuls to the people. Leis of flowers were also tossed to the crowds. I was covered with flowers, and people passed some flowers on to people who hadn't gotten any.

At a designated time everyone tossed the flowers back toward the Ganges. One specially appointed gentleman squeezed his way through the crowd showering the throng with sweet lightly scented rose water from a funky pump propelled watering can. As it was a bit warm sitting in such a crowd, the shower of water on my head was a welcome respite. I just had to warn Stuart to cover the camera whenever I felt a splash or noticed the "water guy" approaching.

The music started, incense, oil lamps with dripping hot wax and fire, and overhead...FIREWORKS! It was wonderful! I even got to hold a stainless steel plate full of fire, and make a circle with it and pass it on! With s much wax and fire, and women in Saris, it's always a wonder that no one is set on fire!

Sweet offerings were given out at the end of the ceremony, as well as fruits from trays heaped with grapes and small peaches. Now that is what I call a birthday celebration. Although Arti is done nightly, it is not on such a grand scale.

I guess that was enough for one day.

Fire and water in Haridware.....Louise and Stuart