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Wake up early to witness rituals performed on the ghat for The Sunrise Gangga Aarti Ceremony. |
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Morning prayers typically begin before dawn, usually around 5:00 AM to 5:30 AM, depending on the time of sunrise. It's advisable to arrive at the ghat a little earlier to find a good spot to witness the ceremony. As the first light of day breaks, the priests perform a highly choreographed ritual. They chant mantras, make offerings to the Ganges, and sway brass lamps in a synchronized manner. The sight of multiple lamps illuminating the pre-dawn darkness is both mesmerizing and spiritually uplifting. The Ganga Aarti is a symbolic act of devotion to the river Ganges, which is considered sacred and purifying in Hinduism. Devotees believe that witnessing this ceremony and participating in it can cleanse one's sins and bring spiritual blessings. |
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Thereafter we will introduce you to your priest for your Pind Daan Rituals. "Pind Daan" refers to the ritual of |
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offering food (pinda) to ancestors to seek their blessings and ensure their peace in the afterlife. This is a separate ritual |
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and is not directly related to the Ganga Aarti. Pind Daan is often performed at specific ghats in Varanasi, such as the |
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Manikarnika Ghat, which is considered one of the holiest for performing funeral rites and rituals. |
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Later visit The Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Banaras dedicated to Lord Shiva, the patron deity of the city, is one of |
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the most famous Hindu temples. The present-day structure is from the 18th century built by the Queen of Indore and |
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its gilded spire was a gift from Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore. |
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Before heading back to the hotel for breakfast visit the Sacred Lolark Kund Stepwell. The kund is dedicated to |
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Lord Surya (the Sun God). Devotees believe that taking a dip in the waters of Lolark Kund during the auspicious |
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month of Bhadrapada (August-September) helps in the fulfillment of wishes, particularly for those seeking progeny. |
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Return to the hotel for breakfast. |
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Thereafter proceed on a Guided Discovery Temples Tour of Varanasi visiting temples like Sankat Mochan Hanuman temple, Annapurna temple, Manas Mandir BHU and others. |
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Later, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay. |
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Priest for the Pindaan & Pooja ceremonies will be on direct payment basis. (Tamil Speaking priest available upon request) |
