Holy Varanasi, India: The Massive Aarti Evening Ceremony

http://www.TravelsWithSheila.com Every night around 6:15p, a massive and colorful Aarti Ceremony takes place at Dashashwamedh Ghat (steps leading to the Ganges River). Thousands of worshippers along with thousands of tourists cram the area and take to boats to watch from the water and take that perfect National Geographic photograph. However, it is a serious ritual. It involves 9 priests who circulate an Aarti lamp around a person or deity while standing on a platform under a lit-up umbrella. Our guide said only young Brahmin priests perform the ceremony because the lamps are so heavy. I'll let you watch the video and then tell me what you think. It was fascinating but like many things in life, a little Aarti goes a long for non-Hindus. On a humorous note: Watching a tea vendor hop from boat to boat selling glasses of tea.