Global Ecovillage Network/Solution Library/Arati aarti

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Arati is a Hindu religious ritual of worship, a part of puja, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee (purified butter) is offered to one or more deities. Aartis also refer to the songs sung in praise of the deity, when lamps are being offered. In doing so, the plate or lamp of Arati is supposed to acquire the power of the deity. The priest circulates the plate or lamp to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead – the purificatory blessing, passed from the deva's IMAGE to the flame, has now been passed to the devotee.

Aarti is waved in circular fashion, in clockwise manner around the deity. The idea here is that aarti represents our daily activities, which revolves around God, a center of our life. Looking at God while performing aarti reminds the performer (and the attendees of the aarti) to keep God at the center of all activities and reinforces the understanding that routine worldly activities are secondary in importance. This understanding would give the believers strength to withstand the unexpected grief and keeps them humble and remindful of God during happy moments.

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