Page 4 - varanasi
P. 4
The Ganga Aarti takes place facing the river. The lamps are lit and
circled around by the pandits (Hindu priests) in a clockwise man-
ner, accompanied by chantings or songs in praise of Mother Gan-
ga. The idea is that the lamps acquire the power of the deity. After
the ritual is complete, devotees will cup their hands over the flame
and raise their palms to their forehead in order to get the God-
dess’s purification and blessing.
