The Good vibes at Ram Ghat!
Ram Ghat is one of the most visited ghats and is very popularly visited during the Kumbh Mela that happens once in 12 years.
Legend has it that once Lord Shiva went begging for alms, using the skull of Lord Brahma as the begging bowl. When he reached Vaikunth, the abode of Lord Vishnu and asked him for alms, Vishnu showed Shiva his index finger. This enraged Shiva and he took out his trishul (weapon) to cut Vishnu’s finger. Vishnu’s finger began to bleed profusely and the blood accumulated in Brahma’s skull and eventually overflowed. The flow became a stream and finally a river known as “The Shipra”.
Ram Ghat is located along the banks of the River Shipra. During evening hours, devotees worship the river that symbolises purity, clarity and chastity.
While some devotees were taking a dip in the holy river, I sat on the steps of Ram Ghat waiting for the aarti to start. Every evening there is Shipra Aarti - an offering of lit oil lamps to the holy river. Thousands of small lamps are set afloat on the river on rafts of leaves and flowers. It is believed that the northbound Shipra takes these offerings to the abode of Lord Shiva in the Himalayas.
There is a lot more to Ram Ghat, than just another bathing place. It had a magical, calm vibe that instantly made me relax. Musicians with drums and cymbals prepared themselves as the evening set in. The aarti started by 7pm and the energy was unbelievable!
The saints and devotees chanted hymns, while the musicians played along, the audience clapped and I was left awestruck – full of energy and positivity.
I wasn’t the only one who was overjoyed about the evening aarti! I spotted an excited devotee, enjoying the rhythm of music, dancing and celebrating the moment. I managed to grab a glimpse of my evening.
I spent the rest of my evening breathing in all the good vibes and sketching this energetic gentleman. Not to mention, dancing in my head thanks to his contagious enthusiasm and the overall energy of this place.
We all travel to take trips, but it is experiences like these that make it a journey isn’t it? And Ram Ghat was a very magical inward journey for me.
Pranita Kocharekar is an independent artist based in Mumbai, India. She specialises in illustration, graphic design & type design. She has worked closely with multiple advertising agencies like Ogilvy & Mather, GREY, FCB Ulka on, and brands like Vodafone, Oreo, and Cadbury 5star. Other than commercial projects, she thrives on self-initiated projects that are humanitarian in nature.
gummygunk
jimmyeatworldofficial
izzy806
amandla
turnnoffyourmind
