How to Worship in the River Ganges
In a country with innumerable sacred sites, people and animals, India's Ganges River is a stunning 1500 miles long holy place of ancient worship. Imagine that the Ganges flows with the same bustling vitality of India's people, culture and religious traditions. To bathe in Mother Ganga, for she is a goddess, is to participate in life force. There are many means by which to worship in the Ganges. Festivals, individual worship and other formal ceremonies help to focus on the sacred. Here are a few guidelines to enhance your Ganges experience.
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Instructions
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Attend nightly worship. Visit the northern town of Haridwar, which is located at the point where the Ganges spills out of the Himalayas. "Ganga Aarti" is a ceremony that takes place at sunset. Visitors and locals set flowers and candles afloat on the river amidst the tangy aroma of incense. The ethereal beauty of Ganga Aarti is an unparalleled vision.
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Bathe in Mother Ganga. At Haridwar, a place of pilgrimage itself, the Ganges is quite cold from its descent out of the Himalayas. It also is much cleaner than other popular pilgrimage sites. Enter the water in a meditative and prayerful state. Each morning pilgrims wade into the sacred waters, offer prayers to the river. It is considered a blessing to bathe in mystery and to be purified by Mother Ganga.
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Attend Kumbh Mela, a festival of sadhus (wandering holy men and women) that is held every four years at three different locations along the Ganges. Millions of people bathe in the Ganges over the 45 days of the festival. Pilgrims also fill small vials with river water to bring home to those who could not attend.
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Purify daily before attending to the affairs of the day. If you live in Varanasi, along the Ganges, it is auspicious to make a daily ritual purification. Hindus continue to worship in the Ganges despite extreme pollution.
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Pray for Mother Ganga. The Ganges is a dumping place for all manner of toxins, even bodies are dumped into the river. Whatever else one might think or believe, the river needs prayers. Some environmental action would not hurt either.
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Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/225359/95855/Morning-prayers-along-the-Ganges-River-Varanasi-India, http://aphs.worldnomads.com/remlaph/12744/P8240696.jpg, http://www.geocities.com/northwest27/prayers-river-ganges-vr11.html, http://www.krisv
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Comments
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wadester
Nov 14, 2009
Very interesting and well-written article. But how many of us are going to get the chance to "worship in the river Ganges"?
