Narmada Aarti

 

Every year, we celebrate Diwali by meeting family, friends, decorating our house, and giving sweets to others. But this year, our school Diwali vacation was only for a week, and we wanted to go on a vacation. So we had no option but to use the Diwali break.

We went to MP since it has a good mix of nature, spirituality, history, and wildlife. First 2 days we had fun seeing a lot of temples and statues and we also enjoyed nature with a boat ride at Beda Ghaat. The third day was the actual day of Lakshmi Puja. We had mixed feelings about missing our home Diwali celebration. However to our luck, in the morning, we were fortunate to hear that there was a big Diwali puja at the Narmada ghat in the night. We all went there.

The place called Gwari Ghaat was so big. There were lights everywhere along the banks of Narmada and also inside in the water. The boats were lit up with attractive light decor and little lamps offered by people were floating on water. People were selling Diyas and making stalls of all possible things. We too bought a Pooja Thali, lit the Diyas, and let them go in the Narmada River. There was pleasant music of Geet Ramayan and Namami devi Narmade in the background. We loved the lyrics of the song. Do listen to it at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZI7QYGTEiU

With a conch, they announced the start of the aarti. All the women gathered up and stood on a mat in the front. There were 5 saints in the front who were doing the pooja on five tables and behind them, people stood in groups behind each table. Each table had a lantern of 50 Diyas. We lit all Diyas and stood there in awe and devotion. We also got a chance to do the aarti right in the front without any rush. Due to covid fear, the place which is usually very crowded had very few people. We prayed for the well-being of all.

To my surprise, even in so much wind, the lamp of 50 Diyas was not extinguished. I thought it could be because of everyone’s devotion and prayers. We offered food to the cow, Gomata on the banks. After the Aarti, they gave us the Prasad and we left. I had a great time at the Pooja and now I was not sad that we couldn’t meet our family and friends on Diwali. I had a story to tell them once back home.

Lyrics of the Song in English

Your River-body illumined with Sacred drops of Water, flows with mischievous playfulness, bending with Waves,
Your Sacred Water has the divine power to transform those who are prone to Hatred, the Hatred born of Sins,
You put an end to the fear of the messenger of Death by giving Your protective Armour (of Refuge),
O Devi Narmada, I Bow down to Your Lotus Feet, Please give me Your Refuge. ॥ 1 ॥

You confer Your Divine touch to the Lowly Fish merged in Your Holy Waters,
You take away the weight of the Sins in this age of Kali; and You are the foremost among all Tirthas (Pilgrimage),
You confer Happiness to the many Fishes, Tortoises, Crocodiles, Geese and Chakra Birds dwelling in Your Water,
O Devi Narmada, I Bow down to Your Lotus Feet, Please give me Your Refuge.