The opportunity to witness the famous Ganga Aarti of Goddess Ganga in Varanasi has reopened at the Dashashwamedh ghat. Due to flooding, the Ganga Aarti was held away from its traditional location for 64 days, but on Tuesday, October 20th, it returned to its original spot.
As soon as the Aarti began on the installed platform of the ghat, thousands of devotees gathered to witness this miraculous spectacle. The entire ghat was filled with an atmosphere of reverence thanks to the lamp lighting, chants, and worship of Goddess Ganga.
Due to the rising water level in the Ganga, the organization of the Aarti at the Dashashwamedh ghat had to be changed. Since August 17th, the Aarti was conducted in the Ganga Seva Nidhi office on the roof. Because of the floodwaters, devotees could not observe the Aarti from the traditional ghat platform. Now, after the water level dropped, the Aarti resumed in its original place.
On Tuesday, when the Aarti took place in its traditional format at the Dashashwamedh ghat, there was great enthusiasm among the attending devotees. A significant number of people participated in the Ganga Aarti. The return of this Aarti, which is the calling card of Kashi, to its old place brought renewed vibrancy to the ghat.
Sushant Mishra, Chairman of Ganga Seva Nidhi, reported that due to the rising water level of Goddess Ganga, the Aarti was held on the office roof for 64 days. On Tuesday, the Aarti took place at the traditional location of the Dashashwamedh ghat. Nevertheless, he noted that the water level in the Ganga still exceeds the norm by about 10-15 feet. He also added that the connection between the solid ghats has been restored. Cleaning of the ghats is being carried out in preparation for upcoming festivals. For the devotees, the return of the Ganga Aarti to its original place after the changes caused by the flooding was a special moment associated with relief and faith.
