Witnessing an Aarti

When we worship God, we have been told that our intent must be to submit ourselves to the divine. In His eyes, we have been told that we all are one. Also, He doesn’t judge you for being either a rabbit or a tortoise, as He knows us far too well. These statements are there to allow us to be our natural selves in front of God. One major part of the act of worship in Hinduism is singing an Aarti in unison. Aarti is poetry sung in praise of God. It is reiterated in different ways in an Aarti, regarding the different aspects of God, His benevolence, our nothingness, and our devotion to Him.

Almost all Hindus do Aarti, if not every day, but at least on our major festivals. Today there is a havan going on in one of our society’s resident’s houses and the sound of their family singing Aarti came to my house too. Listening to them I yet again observed a typical thing that happens every time a group sings an Aarti. These musicals sound good for sure, but there is also a critical/entertaining activity that happens during each of these sessions. This activity is just opposite to one of the objectives of singing Aarti in the first place, and I have often found myself looking out for the one who will be the initiator of that in a gathering. With much build-up, I will now jump into the details.

We are told and have also imbibed this within us that God doesn’t judge us, and neither is he determining who is singing better, or who has learned the lines well. Yet every time a group sings, there is definitely someone who is always eager and almost has a competitive spirit regarding being the first to start the next line or the next couplet. This person doesn’t care that the others would like to give a melodious finish to the preceding line. All that is in this fellow’s mind is, that I am the rabbit and the torchbearer to give way to the next line of the prose, even if I lose a breath in that process. It is actually quite funny to observe the act, as it hastens the others in the group as well. Back in my home, my Babba and my Chachi are one of these over-enthusiasts and it is always fun to watch them hopping on these lines as the others are singing in chorus.

Just a random observation I thought I should share with the one reading. Go sing an Aarti today evening in a group, and you will find that someone for sure. Maybe it could be me too 😉