Rivers have been deified by Indians for millennia. The river aarti, a reflection of this reverence, is nothing short of a majestical experience that makes many of India’s smaller, more rural cities come alive. Here are a few aartis in India that should be on your bucket-list.
While for many a river aarti (Hindu ritual with lamps) is a religious practice that involves paying reverence to a holy water body, for others the coming together of fire-light, water and outdoor elements makes for a mesmerising experience that transcends faith. Whatever your reasons for wanting to attend one of these sacred events, here’s a list of some famous river aartis from across India that you could consider participating in.
Endless lores, hymns, songs, and verses have been poured into praising and celebrating the life-giving rivers. When the now world-renowned Ganga aarti at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was revamped in 2017, though having begun way back in 1991, the aim was to create awareness about keeping the Ganga clean and foster greater cultural and existential connect between the river and the devotee. The Ganga aarti at Rishikesh and Haridwar, both in Uttarakhand, have been huge draws as well, owing to the Ganga being the longest and most-worshipped river in India.
OK, we know Bengaluru is not a rural city, but we felt this list was not complete without it. The Karnataka government recently announced a Cauvery aarti on the lines of the Ganga aarti, to be held regularly at Bengaluru’s Sankey Tank. The Cauvery flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and is the third-largest river in the southern region, the largest in the region being Godavari.
Godavari Harathi, as it is known regionally, takes place daily at the Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh amidst a captivating scene of tiered aarti lamps illuminating a dark river-line with incense and sambrani smoke dancing in the air. The rhythmic chants create a lulling yet invigorating experience making the devotees rock to the mantras in unison. This river originates in Maharashtra and traverses east mainly through Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. Dakshin Ganga is how Godavari is also known, being the second longest river in India.
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The same Godavari, venerated as Goda Mai in Panchavati, Nashik, Maharashtra, witnesses women archakas dressed in striking traditional Maharashtrian attire, daily worshipping the river goddess, alongside male priests, in an eye-pleasing, spell-binding ritual. The samiti (committee) handling the daily rituals relating to the Goda aarti, broadcasts live feed of the event daily via their SM handles, complete with Ghibli Studio-style pictures of the goddess Godavari.
The lifeline of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, the Narmada, considered the oldest river in India, emerges at Amarkantak, in Madhya Pradesh. The Kotitirth Ghat at Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirling, located 77 km from Indore, MP, and over 760 km from Amarkantak, sees throngs of devotees the year round owing to the Omkareshwar Shiva temple as well as the daily Narmada aarti. The highlight of the aarti here is that for a nominal contribution, the devotees too can perform the evening Narmada aarti, and offer their gratitude to the river goddess.
With a new Narmada Ghat constructed near the Statue of Unity (SoU) in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat, the Narmada Maha Aarti has been a huge draw along with the umpteen other attractions at SoU like the river cruise, river rafting, a host of different parks and gardens and laser shows as well as exclusive luxury accommodation known as tent cities, all abounding the largest lake in the Sardar Sarovar dam.
The Narmada Maha Aarti is a visual treat of rhythmic offerings of deep-aarti and dhoop-aarti and harmonious chants of Narmadashtakam, and the Gujarat government has left no stone unturned to make the Maha Aarti and a visit to the Statue of Unity an experience worth cherishing.
The Sarayu Ghat in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, has already been a highlight for the past dozen-odd years. However, ever since the consecration of the Ram Lalla temple in 2024, the evening aarti has been made grander, more picturesque and even more organised than before. While river Sarayu is associated with Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, river Shipra is associated with Lord Vishnu’s third avatar, the Varaha or boar avatar.
It is not just the rivers that are considered holy and worshipped unanimously in India. The Mahodadhi aarti is a ritual of offering prayers to the sea or ocean, considered a male deity, as opposed to most of the rivers that are worshipped as female deities. This Samudra Aarti, held at Swargadwara beach in Odisha’s popular beach town of Puri is organised by the Shankaracharya Math. Every evening, as lamps are lit and mantras resound the air, the priests collect seawater and bow before it reverently, thanking the ocean deity for its bounty and providing livelihood to millions of families. It is a mutual arrangement between the giver and the taker – always respect the giver, and He will let your boat sail through.
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The lead image on top shows the Godavari Harathi. Held at the Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry, it is an experience that is believed to send devotees into a trance. (Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
