From the archive record
Devotees and visitors gather for the evening Ganga Aarti at a riverfront ghat in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India. People sit along the steps and pebbly riverbank, while others stand behind steel railings beneath a covered shelter. A priest dressed in red and white distributes flowers and religious offerings to families near the water. Brass oil lamps arranged on stands are ready for the ceremony, and a saffron flag flies above the ghat. Green hills rise beyond the Ganga, forming the backdrop to the gathering. The scene captures preparations for a Hindu river worship ritual and the participation of pilgrims, local residents, and visitors.