{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Varanasi's Ganga Aarti Moves to a Rooftop for the Fifth Time This Year as Floodwater Reaches the Ghat's Steps",
  "summary": "With the Ganga's water level crossing 64 metres and flooding the steps of Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat, the famous Ganga Aarti has been shifted to a rooftop for the fifth time this year, as authorities suspend boat operations on the river.",
  "content": "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.\n\nAarti Moves to a Rooftop, Crowds Still Turn Out\n\nThe 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.\n\nGanga 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.\n\nWater Level Crosses 64 Metres, Boats Grounded\n\nThe 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.\n\nGiven 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.\n\nThis 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.\n\nWhat this means for you\n• Across India: Cities along the Ganga can see similar last-minute changes to religious and public gatherings whenever monsoon water levels rise, so check local administration advisories before planning a visit to a ghat.\n• In Varanasi: Devotees heading to see the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat will now need to go to the rooftop of the Ganga Seva Nidhi office, and since boat rides are currently suspended, visitors should stay away from deeper water near the ghats.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Why was the Ganga Aarti's venue changed in Varanasi?\nRising Ganga water reached the steps of Dashashwamedh Ghat, leaving too little space to hold the ceremony safely.\n\n2. Where is the aarti being held now?\nIt is now held on the rooftop of the Ganga Seva Nidhi office instead of on the ghat itself.\n\n3. How many times has the venue changed this year?\nThis is the fifth time this year that the aarti's location has been shifted.\n\n4. How high has the Ganga's water level risen?\nAccording to a Jal Police report cited by ACP Dr Atul Anjan Tripathi, the water level crossed 64 metres on the morning of 15 August.\n\n5. Are boats still operating on the Ganga in Varanasi?\nNo, the administration has suspended boat operations until further orders.\n\n6. Who runs the Ganga Aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat?\nIt is organised by the Ganga Seva Nidhi, whose president Sushant Mishra confirmed the rooftop shift.\n\n7. What precautions has the administration taken?\nSurveillance at the ghats has been increased, boat operators told to follow safety rules, and devotees and tourists advised against going into deep water.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/uttar-pradesh/varanasi-ghata-taka-pahuncha-gnga-ka-uphana-arati-isa-sala-panchavin-bara-chhata-para-shiphta-17795",
  "category": "Uttar Pradesh",
  "publishedAt": "2026-08-17",
  "tags": [
    "Ganga water level",
    "Varanasi",
    "Dashashwamedh Ghat",
    "Ganga Aarti",
    "Ganga Seva Nidhi",
    "Uttar Pradesh flood"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}