Ganga Aarti in Rishikesh: Evening Ritual on the Ganges

Rishikesh, in northern India, is where the Ganges flows along the foothills of the Himalayas. When the sun sets, people gather on the ghats, the steps leading down to the river, to offer the evening ritual known as Ganga Aarti.

Ganga Aarti is an evening prayer ceremony dedicated to the Ganges River. Amidst the sounds of chanting and bells, and the aroma of incense, priests and devotees offer prayers while floating luminous lamps on the water.

If you wish to feel the spiritual traditions of India up close, reserve your evening in Rishikesh. A guide can help you understand the deeper meaning of the ceremony.

A Prayer on the Ganges at Dusk: Ganga Aarti

As the ceremony begins, the riverbanks fill with hymns and the sound of bells, while priests and devotees light lamps for their prayers. The sight of countless diyas (lamps) floating on the river is a memory that stays with you.

The Ganga Aarti ceremony guided tour starts in the afternoon at Swargashram, near Ram Jhula. After exploring Ram Jhula for about 30 minutes, you'll move to the ghats where the ceremony takes place, and watch Ganga Aarti for about an hour.

With a guide by your side explaining the significance of the ritual, even first-time visitors can easily follow along. It runs as a private tour for your group only.

From Lakshman Jhula to Parmarth Niketan: An Evening Stroll

If you'd like to combine a riverside walk with the ceremony, consider the 3-hour evening walking tour. Starting from Tryambakeshwar Temple, you'll walk past the suspension bridge Lakshman Jhula, Ganga Beach, Ram Jhula ghats, and Gita Bhawan.

Your English-speaking guide will share insights into Rishikesh's holy sites and spiritual teachings along the way. The tour concludes with about an hour at the ghats of Parmarth Niketan, witnessing the Ganga Aarti.

Sitting alongside pilgrims and fellow travelers, watching the ceremony as twilight descends upon the Ganges, is a quintessential Rishikesh experience.

A Day Trip Including the Beatles Ashram

For a comprehensive day exploring Rishikesh, a tour that combines daytime sightseeing with the Ganga Aarti is ideal. This approximately 6-hour walking tour takes you through Ram Jhula, Lakshman Jhula, and Parmarth Niketan, before visiting the Beatles Ashram, where the band stayed in 1968.

After exploring the meditation huts and murals in the forest, you'll watch the Ganga Aarti on the riverbank in the evening. If walking isn't your preference, a vehicle tour is available that includes hotel pickup, lunch, a visit to the Beatles Ashram, and the Ganga Aarti all in one day.

For the vehicle tour, the Ganga Aarti takes place at either Triveni Ghat or Parmarth Niketan. Meeting points and times vary by tour, and the itinerary may change depending on local conditions, so be sure to check your voucher.

If you're looking to see the lights spread across the Ganges at sunset, spend your evening in Rishikesh with the Ganga Aarti.