The Ganga's rising water level in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is no longer just a flood story, it is now reshaping how the city holds its evening rituals. Water from the river has climbed all the way up to the steps of Dashashwamedh Ghat, the very spot where thousands of devotees gather each evening to witness the famous Ganga Aarti. Faced with the encroaching water, organisers were forced to relocate the ceremony once again, marking the fifth such shift this year alone.
Aarti Moves to a Rooftop, Crowds Still Turn Out
The aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat, traditionally conducted by the Ganga Seva Nidhi, is now being held on the rooftop of the organisation's office instead of on the ghat itself. A large number of devotees still turned up on Monday, even as the space available for the ceremony kept shrinking with every passing day as the river crept higher. With the crowd swelling and usable ground disappearing, organisers were left with little choice but to move the ritual upward.
Ganga Seva Nidhi president Sushant Mishra explained the reason for the shift, saying, "There was less room, but the crowd kept growing." According to him, the water level rises every year around this time, and this year is no exception, so for safety reasons the decision was taken to hold the aarti on the rooftop of the office rather than on the ghat.
Water Level Crosses 64 Metres, Boats Grounded
The local administration has also stepped up precautions as the river continues to swell. Dr Atul Anjan Tripathi, ACP of the Dashashwamedh area, said that according to a Jal Police report, the Ganga's water level crossed the 64 metre mark on the morning of 15 August, a Saturday, and continued climbing rapidly through the day.
Given the situation, the administration has suspended boat operations on the Ganga until further orders. Surveillance along the ghats has been tightened, boat operators have been asked to strictly follow safety protocols, and devotees and tourists visiting the ghats have been advised to stay away from deeper stretches of the river.
This is the fifth time this season that the Ganga Aarti's venue has had to be changed because of the fluctuating water level. Each time the river edges closer to the ghat, organisers are forced to rearrange the setup at short notice, which affects preparations for the ceremony and leaves devotees having to locate the new spot. Even so, the number of people turning up for the aarti has not dropped noticeably, with large crowds continuing to gather under the revised arrangement.
