Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Gangaa Aarti ceremony on the Ganges in Varanasi, India

A line of priests hold tiered lamps and move in a synchronized dance to the chanting of the holy mantras. Every night at a certain ghat on the river Ganges the Gangaa Aarti ritual is performed for both locals and tourists from around India and the world. The ceremony is a ritual thanking the river Ganga for its blessings and a time of purification and offerings.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2020
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Varanasi, India
Copyright: © Chris Buckley