Traditions in Varanasi

Introduction:

There are many traditions in Varanasi. There are also many different traditions throughout India. Some of these are similar to the ones in Varanasi, but usually different regions have different traditions. Remember that Varanasi is in the north-east of India, so its traditions look a lot different from, say, the Indian traditions in the south-west!

What tradition did I learn about?:

The tradition that I learned about is called the Ganga Aarti. The Ganga Aarti is a religious ceremony that happens every morning and evening in Varanasi. This ceremony involves people going to the Ganges River in the morning and evening to chant, pray and sing. It is kind of like going to church or to a mosque. Since it is a religious ceremony, I do not have any pictures of it.

Why does the community have this tradition?:

Hindu people see the Ganges River as a physical version of the goddess Ganga. The Ganga Aarti is a religious ceremony that is part of the Hindu faith. There are many religious reasons why people perform the aarti, but a simple way to describe it is as a ceremony to wake Ganga up in the morning and put her back to sleep at night.

Is this tradition connected to its environment? How?:

This tradition is connected to the environment!

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