Pashupatinath Aarati is the most precious ritual held at the bank of the Bagmati river on the eastern side of the Pashupatinath Temple. It is a well-known fact that aarati has been given the most value in the Hindu religion. Hence, many people gather together at the bank of the Bagmati river to enjoy the mesmerizing aarti ceremony. Foreigners who are not allowed to enter the main temple of Pashupatinath are freely allowed to join the Pashupatinath Sandhya aarti. People worldwide visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pashupatinath Temple, during their tour in Nepal. The name of Pashupatinath is enough for its popularity, but the evening aarti is also the reason for the visit of many devotees.
By taking the oil lamps, priests move those lamps in a circular motion and perform the divine act. Besides these, during the aarti time, sometimes you may also see some devotees performing Tandav. Tandav is a celestial dance performed by Lord Shiva. To respect Lord Shiva, some devotees and Sadhus perform this dance. The astonishing ritual performance of the priests and devotees makes the evening more dazzling. The singing of hymns in praise of god, playing classical instruments, chanting Vedic mantras, burning coal incense, lighting of lamps, ringing bells, and other religious elements keep the people mesmerized.
Another exciting thing about the Pashupatinath aarati is that standing at the bank of the holy Bagmati river during the aarti time, you can see life and deaths simultaneously. On one side of the riverbank, you can see the people celebrating life, and on the other side, you can see the families and priests getting ready for the cremation. On the eastern river, there is a flame lighted with bated breath, while on the western bank, there is a flame coming out of a person's body after the last breath. Spending some time at this place will experience a rich spiritual connection. You will notice that death is not the end but the new beginning. Attending the aarati, you will forget all your pain and sorrow for a while. Also, it may be why thousands of people visit Pashupatinath temple every day in the evening aarti time. To thank God and pray for the betterment of humanity, aarati is conducted at Pashupatinath temple.
If you are in Nepal and haven’t attended the Pashupatinath Bagmati aarati, you are missing something precious. You should participate in the sandhya aarti for a spiritual connection whenever you visit Nepal. Every moment spent at this location will make your trip to Nepal more exciting and reminiscing.
Pashupatinath Aarati Starting Time
Pashupatinath aarati was started in 2000 AD. However, it was established as a regular tradition in 2006 AD. Depending on the season, the aarti begins at around 6 pm during winter and around 7 pm during the summer season. By joining this Sandhya Aarati, you will indulge in a spiritual journey. Every day during the aarti time, the bank of the sacred Bagmati River gets filled with devotees and tourists. Listening to the bhajans and watching the dancers perform the ritual dance is blissful. On top of this, the aarati itself is the major attraction of the evening. Participating in the aarati plunges you into the sea of eternal peace while providing you with inner satisfaction.
