The photos are from Haridwar, Uttarakhand. This place is a famous point of Haridwar which is known as 'Har Ki Pauri'. Aarti of river Ganga is performed here every morning and evening. Aarti means: Aarti is a worship method of Hindu religion in which a lamp is lit in a plate and it is rotated in front of God while singing bhajans. This process is called Aarti and this method is very famous in India.
I also went to participate in this Ganga Aarti, this was during the covid time when the whole world was troubled by the corona virus. As soon as the lockdown ended in India and the situation became a little better, I left to take a bath in Maa Ganga. Nowadays Maha Kumbh is going on in Prayagraj, which I remember because of Ganga. I have not been able to go to Prayagraj yet and I also know that this time I will not be able to be present there.
In the photos you can see a little girl smiling, this girl is applying a tilak of sandalwood and vermillion on the forehead of the people who participated in the Aarti. And in return, it takes money from people as per their wish so that it can earn a living for itself and its family. In the next photo, you can see Shri M in white clothes, who is a great religious guru of India. I also read a book named Apprenticed to a Himalayan Master (A Yogi's Autobiography) to understand his life.
Pandits who belong to a particular caste are lighting big lamps and performing aarti by placing puja material in a plate in front of Maa Ganga river. Ganga bhajans are playing loudly on the speaker which we all are singing loudly. People are sitting with folded hands and after getting blessings from Maa Ganga, they go to their respective homes or hotels late at night. I also do the same and complete my day.
This is my entry for #monomad challenge.
Disclaimer: This post is originally written in Hindi and I have used Google Translator to translate the Hindi text in English. All the photos have been clicked by me from Canon 77d and edited in lightroom, post thumbnail created in adobe photoshop.
