The Evening Aarti

Tags

Aarti, Ganga Aarti, Ganges, Ganges River, India, Pujya Swamiji, Rishikesh, Travel

My stomach is tingling with anticipation as everything I was told not to do, I’m doing. “Don’t ride on a motorbike, they are the top cause of medical emergencies in India, but if you have to, wear a helmet and don’t ride at night.” Well, check, check and check. We’ll also throw in don’t ride with a male stranger for good measure. Also, check. I would never be so daring at home, but in a foreign land where I’m not sure what my health coverage is, why not?

I’m not taking this risk for no reason, I’m late for the Ganga Aarti and when the hotel concierge offered to take me, I quickly said yes. Each evening at dusk a devotional ritual takes place along the Ganges River at 3 holy cities: Rishikesh, Haridwar and Varanasi. The ceremony involves Hindu priests singing and chanting praises to the Goddess Ganga, while devotees make fire offerings in the form of flower baskets and candles.

This evening was extra special  because the Chief Minister of Dehradun, Vijay bahuguna and the Minister of the Interior(?) were present and Pujya Swamiji, a renowned spiritual leader, led the ceremony. The Aarti is beautiful, the singing and chanting sounds pre-recorded, it’s so perfect, but it’s not. There’s such a feeling of happiness and peace. Each click of my camera feels like an intrusion, but I clumsily click along anyway…

If you get to see this, and are even luckier to participate in the ceremony by holding the fire lit lamps, always remember to use your RIGHT hand, never the left!

Out of Place in the Yoga Capital of the World

Tags

Ganges, Ganges River, Himalayan, Himalayas, India, Lakshman Jhula, Ram Jhula, Rishikesh, Shri Trayanbakshwar, Travel, Yoga

“Ommmmm….” I sit cross legged in front of my yoga instructor at the Himalayan Yogshala, as he chants and I wonder, ‘Am I supposed to join him?’ I take a breath and try. “Omm?” yeah, no, this isn’t working, I feel awkward and silly. I’ll just sit silently and try to relish in the idea of learning yoga in the yoga capital of the world. I am, after all, in Rishikesh.

Rishikesh is a yoga town situated between two extension bridges (Lakshman Jhula and Ram Jhula) built across the Ganges river, the most sacred river to Hindus. I’ve been told that Rishikesh is an incredibly spiritual place, but the short three days I was there, I have to admit, I just didn’t get it. I was going to skip this city, but was convinced to go to experience its beauty.  Most of its visitors stay for weeks/months at a time to practice and learn yoga. As a passer-by I don’t think I got to appreciate it as well as I could have, but here are some Rishikesh highlights.

Take a spin on the back of a motorbike

Share the roads and narrow bridges with bikes, dogs, cows, people

And sometimes monkeys

Visit the Shri Trayanbakshwar, and ring bells for blessings

Admire the holy men… preferably from afar…

Ride a ferry across the Ganges

And if you do, bless yourself with the Ganges water, dipping your hand into the cool, and relatively clean river and placing the droplets on your head