As the sun sets on the banks of the river Ganges, a hush falls over the crowds gathered there. The only sound is the lapping of the water against the shore. Suddenly, the air is filled with the sound of bells and the chanting of mantras as the Ganga Aarti ceremony begins. The darkness is illuminated by hundreds of flickering lamps, each one a symbol of devotion to the holy river. An aarti is a devotional ceremony which uses fire as an offering. As the ceremony unfolds, the atmosphere is charged with an electric energy, a palpable sense of reverence and devotion that can be felt by all. The flickering lights of the lamps dance on the water, casting a golden glow over the faces of the onlookers, as the priests offer prayers and incense to the river.