Ganga Aarti

The Ganga Aarti is an uplifting spiritual ritual that is performed at the banks of river Ganga every evening (at dusk). The offerings during the Aarti ceremony represent the five elements of creation: the flowers represent earth (solidity), water (liquidity), the lamp/camphor represents fire (heat), the peacock fan represents air (movement), and the yak-tail fan represents the subtle form of ether (space). The incense represents a purified state of mind and the burning wick represents the destruction of one’s ego until finally there is only the realization of one’s true Self left (a movement from darkness to light). The Aarti thus is a ritual to acknowledge that one’s existence and all material creation are a work of the Supreme.

 

Hundreds of common folk as well as the rich and the powerful (easily identified by their government-issue cars with blue or read beacons) turn up every evening to pay obeisance to Mother Ganga. However, I fail to understand one thing: How can one revere and revile the Ganga at the same time? How can one sanctify and defile the Ganga at the same time? The Ganga still continues to be polluted by economic endeavors arising out of human greed. The very politicians and industrialists who come to offer their respects to the holy river every evening have done precious little to help save its dwindling ecosystem. In case of the Ganga, is devotion inversely proportional to action?

Done