Ganga Aarti on the ghat of the River Ganga in Varanasi is a traditionally religious ritual of the Hindus to express their gratitude to Mother Ganges, revered as a deity. The Aarti lasts for 50 minutes. The timing of the Ganga Aarti varies as per the weather conditions. In summer season it is conducted at 6:30 PM but in winter season at 5:15 PM. Though in summer and winter, the venue of the ceremony remains same and in the open on Dashashwamedh Ghat but during monsoon, it is shifted into temple. Watching the ceremony is a feast to the eyes and partaking in it is like a spiritual bliss. Every evening, young Brahmins conduct the Ganga Aarti according to religiously prescribed mode. The Ganga Aarti is a Hindu spiritual ceremony accompanied by chanting of Sanskrit shlokas (sacred hymns) in honour of the Ganges. Hundreds of pilgrims hurry each evening on foot or by boat along the Ganges to attend this ceremony. Ganga Aarti begins with the sound of conch-shells billowed by young Brahmans. Dressed in brightly colored silk dhotis, they perform a perfectly synchronized choreography using a variety of material and instruments, traditionally used in deity worship: candlesticks, brass lamps, incense sticks, bells, peacock feathers etc. These priests then perform the "Puja" offering rites, to the rhythm of sacred songs by managing fire and light with great dexterity. Each gesture thus rests on a precise and codified symbolism. Fire and light, at the center of this ceremony as well as of the Hindu religion, are thus "offered to the Ganges". A supernatural atmosphere plunges the faithful and the public into a collective communion culminating in a final mystical impulse symbolized by the flight of petals. The smell of incense mingles in the air, creating an auspicious ambience. The candles lit up on leaves are offered to the Ganges. As a result, plunged in a mysterious fog, thousands of lamps undulate and drift on the Ganges, making a perfect opportunity for a photographer.