MALAPPURAM: With lamps rising in unison and mantras echoing along the riverbank, Bharathapuzha witnessed an unprecedented moment on Monday as pandits from Kashi performed a ceremonial river aarti for the first time in Kerala.
Though Bharathapuzha has been central in the spiritual landscape of Kerala since ancient times, there has never been a regular evening aarti performed on a public platform where the river itself is considered a deity. Through Nila Aarti, the river itself becomes the idol of worship.
The presence of seven pandits at Dashashwamedha Ghat lends authenticity and spiritual solemnity to this ceremony. The classical style of the Ganga Aarti in Kashi is reflected in the calm flow of Bharathapuzha, with coordinated dances of lights, with the sound of conch shells and chanting of mantras.
“The fact that the aarti is held at traditional bathing places and ancestral karma centres commemorates the life cycle of the river and the divine presence together. The ceremonies are arranged in a manner that preserves the spiritual beauty of Kerala and is in keeping with local worship styles.
In the context of the environmental challenges facing Bharathapuzha, Nila Aarti has a strong social message along with spirituality, said Maghamaha Mahotsavam coordinator K Kesavadas. “The aim is to instill in the community the awareness that by worshipping the river, it is also a spiritual obligation to protect the river.”
The aarti, which is held in the evenings on Mahamagha days, which are full of deep yagnas and ancestral karmas, is a spiritual experience. As the lamps rise and fall, and the sounds of mantras spread along the riverbank, devotees and visitors simultaneously merge into a silent prayer.
Governor Rajendra Arlekar inaugurated the Mahotsavam on Monday. The official commencement of the Mahotsavam was marked by the traditional Dharma Dhwajarohanam (hoisting of the ceremonial flag. “Dharma is not merely about rituals or forms of worship. Dharma is righteousness. It is a commitment to what is right, just, and humane. This is our great heritage, and I choose to follow this path with conviction,” he said.
Earlier in the morning, around 9 am, the first holy dip of the Mahamagha Mahotsavam was conducted at the Navamukunda Temple bathing ghat under the leadership of Mahamandaleshwar Swami Anandavanam Bharati Maharaj. The ritual was accompanied by Vedic chants, devotional hymns, and traditional percussion ensembles.