Mystery & Lighting Effects

While appearing mysterious to Westerners, this man is part of the Ganges Aarti, a religious ceremony with 12 Hindu priests (pandits) simultaneously performing the same set of rituals. In Varanasi, the ritual occurs at sunset on the holy Dasaswamedh Ghat (steps), near Kashi Vishwanath Temple.This choreographed nightly lighting of lamps, accompanied by chanting, is an offering to the Goddess Ganga of the Ganges River, the most holy river in India.  While a popular viewpoint is the rooftop of a shop behind but higher than the ceremony, another option is to hire a local boat for an even better view from the river.