By OUR STAFF REPORTER
RISHIKESH, 25 Dec: Ganga Awareness & Aarti Training workshops have been transformative in empowering priests and pandits situated along the banks of River Ganga and her tributaries to carry the sacred message of Ganga conservation and devotion to the masses. To date, these trainings have equipped nearly 200 priests and pandits across more than 100 ghats, spanning over 75 cities and towns in six states along the River Ganga and her tributaries. These workshops, held under the joint aegis of Parmarth Niketan, Namami Gange, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and their Arth Ganga initiative, have been instrumental in establishing ghats as platforms for public awareness, devotion, and ecological responsibility.
A recent three-day Ganga Awareness and Aarti training workshop was completed at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, under Swami Chidanand Saraswati. This event welcomed 35 priests from 23 ghats across four states of India. Participants were trained to perform Ganga Aarti inspired by the model of Parmarth Niketan, transforming their ghats into vibrant hubs of cultural, spiritual, and environmental education and awareness.
Inspired by the clarion call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure a clean and green Ganga for all, the concept for these trainings was officially announced in October 2023 when the Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat joined Swami Chidanand Saraswati at Parmarth Niketan ahead of the Run for Unity. Throughout the course of this year the training has witnessed the great transformation and change that faith-based messaging can have in supporting initiatives like Swachh Bharat and Arth Ganga. It has also garnered the appreciation of the present Union Minister, Jal Shakti, CR Patil, and the Director General of Namami Gange.
Swami Chidanand Saraswati emphasised the profound significance of Ganga Aarti as a spiritual and cultural practice. Reflecting on its history, he said, “The tradition of Ganga Aarti is not just about prayers and rituals; it is a celebration of our cultural heritage and a call to protect the sanctity of our rivers and all our sacred water bodies. Through the Aarti, we honour the life-giving waters of Maa Ganga while awakening a sense of responsibility towards preserving this sacred resource for future generations.”
He stated that, just as the Ganga Aarti in Varanasi, Haridwar and Rishikesh are part of Incredible India, he hopes to see the Aarti becoming a unifying and inspiring act that brings communities together to promote ecological harmony. He said, “When Ganga Aarti happens from every ghat, it sends a powerful message: that the purity of our rivers reflects the purity of our hearts and actions.”
Padma Shri awardee Kailash Kher lauded the initiative and, during the eighth training, shared an inspiring message with the priests. He said, “All change begins with a strong initiation. Whether it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, Swami Vivekananda Ji, Mahatma Gandh Ji or Chandra Shekhar Azad Ji, the seed of change always began with strong determination, dedication and persistence. Hurdles and obstacles along the way should not deter one from the goal.”
The Ganga Aarti training not only imparts the technicalities of the ritual, the methods to incorporate and inspire mass pledges, but also instils the values of service, responsibility, and unity. The priests and participants leave equipped not just with knowledge but also with a renewed commitment to preserving the sanctity of Maa Ganga and her tributaries.
Swami Chidanand concluded, “It is not enough to simply go to temples or offer prayers and do Aarti. The real temple is our life, and the true Aarti is in how we live it—honouring the divine in our actions, protecting the environment, and serving society. Let this message flow like the sacred waters of Ganga, reaching every home and every heart.”
