Kolkata the heritage city also knows how to step up with every modern development. However along with that it also loves to imbibe various factors that will further enhance the experiences of the city dwellers and the tourists in the city. One such path breaking event is the introduction of Ganga Aarti Kolkata. The Kolkata Ganga Aarti is one of the major attractions in the city currently. It is however not a very old attraction. Only a year back this idea has been introduced here and its popularity is ever increasing. Whenever we listen to the term Ganga aarti we relate it to Varanasi. After all, the splendid ghats of Varanasi are popular for their Ganag aarti. And people from all over the world visit there to witness the grand aarti there. And now Kolkata is also one such location where you can witness the Ganga Aarti.
The Varanasi style Ganga Aarti Kolkata is a popular attraction here. Moreover it is completely inspired by the Aartis of the Dashaswamedh Ghat and Assi Ghat of Varanasi as well. Even the setup and the ambiance also gives a feel and look of the Varanasi Ghats. So now you don’t have to travel all the way to Varanasi to explore the aartis. You can enjoy the divine vibe of it very much within the city. Do check out the Ganga Aarti Kolkata photos and you would know how beautiful that sight is. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything about the Ganga Aarti Kolkata. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning to witness this experience in Kolkata.
Ganga Aarti Kolkata
Location: Ganga Aarti Kolkata location is Babughat Ramkrishnapur Ferry, BBD Bagh, Howrah, Kolkata, West Bengal
Timings: Ganga Aarti Kolkata timings during summers is 7 pm and during winters it is 6 pm in the evening on all days
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the aarti location is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. From the airport Babughat is located at a distance of 17.9km. It would take you around 45 minutes to reach the ghat from the airport. It would be most convenient to take a cab or hire a yellow taxi to reach Babughat from the Kolkata airport. Or else you can also take the city buses as well to reach there easily.
By train
While travelling in a train the major railway station near the aarti location is the Howrah Railway Station. From there the distance to reach the ghat is about 4.5 km. It would take you around 18 minutes to 20 minutes to reach the location of aarti from there. Another major railway station is the Sealdah railway station. From the Sealdah station Babughat is 5.9 km away. It would take you around 22 minutes to reach the ghat from the railway station. From both the railway stations you can take a cab or else you can take a yellow taxi to reach the location of aarti. Or else you can opt for buses as well to reach there.
By road
The location is well connected by roadways. So if you are travelling within the city then you can opt for the city buses to reach here. Or else to travel more conveniently you can opt for a cab or a yellow taxi as well. And if you wish you can also travel by your own vehicle as well.
By metro
You can also travel by metro as well and the nearest metro station to reach the aarti location is Esplanade Metro Station. From Esplanade Metro Station the ghat is located at a distance of 2.4 km. It would take you around 11 minutes to reach there from the metro station. You will find the city buses on this route to reach here from Esplanade Metro. Or else you can walk for about 20 minutes to reach the ghat from the metro station as well.
Overview of Ganga Aarti Kolkata
The Ganga Aarti in Kolkata is the brainchild of Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee. On one of her trips to Varanasi she was truly mesmerized by the Ganga Aarti there. And she wanted the city dwellers to experience the same in Kolkata. Therefore she came up with the idea of introducing this Ganga Aarti in Kolkata. In 2023 the Chief Minister herself inaugurated the Ganga Aarti in Kolkata.
Every day the aarti is held here at 7 pm during summers and at 6 pm during winters. What makes it even more alluring is the setup here. There are seating arrangements here on both sides where people can sit and enjoy this divine experience. Every day the aarti takes place here except for the days of idol immersions after Durga Puja. This location is also popular for idol immersions. So on those days the Aarti here does not take place.
Even for days like idol immersion of Kali Puja or for Lakshmi Puja the aarti does not take place. But other than that it happens every day. Visitors can come here a little early to grab the best seats here for the best view. There is no ticket fare here and the seats also depend on a first come first serve basis. So if you visit here a little early you will get a better position too.
For the aarti here there is a special team of priests who are appointed to carry on the aarti here. All of them wear similar types of dresses and the sight looks divine. This whole initiative is being taken by the West Bengal Tourism Development Corporation. Moreover other than the seats you can even take a boat ride here as well as you witness the majestic aarti here. There is a special launch here as well that you can opt to enjoy this experience. There is however a fee of Rs. 100 if you wish to enjoy this. Otherwise you can simply sit at the Ghat and watch the aarti ceremony for free.
What’s more?
There are 11 temporary platforms here which are set up everyday for the aarti. And on top of it the priests stand and perform the aarti. You might miss the grandeur of the aarti in Varanasi here, but this aarti seems divine too. The priests have tall brass lamps on their hand with which they perform the aarti. At first the aarti starts with blowing the conch shells. And then the aarti starts where the priests continue the activity. They move the brass lamps in synchronized slow movements. And along with that there is chanting of hymns and mantras as well. All of these overall totally change the atmosphere of this location. For a second you may even forget that you are not in Varanasi but in Kolkata.
The smoke from the lamp, the chanting and the divine aura of the location engulfs the whole area. It feels divine to witness something like this. A lot of people search for the Ganga Aarti Kolkata Princep Ghat timing. But at present you can only watch this aarti at Babughat, so make sure you are visiting there for sure.
1 year of Ganga Aarti in Kolkata
Recently the aarti just completed a year of its successful continuance. During this 1 year the aarti in Kolkata has only become more popular with each passing day. Recently the celebrations of Dev Deepawali took place here with much grandeur. The locals lit more than 1000 diyas on the ghat to make the celebration more grand. The last year has seen more than 4.5 lakh of people attending the aarti here. The aarti has further completed 300 days in a year as it was suspended on the immersion days.
To celebrate the success of 1 year a special program took place here. There was Aarti, Dandiya Dance and staging of a Dance Drama as well. At the end of the programme the organizers offered the devotees a bhog of luchi and halwa as well.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all that you needed to know about the Ganga Aarti Kolkata. Currently the Kolkata Ganga Aarti is one of the major attractions in the city. For both the city dwellers as well as the tourists this will be an enjoyable experience if you enjoy the aarti in Kolkata. So if you are exploring the city then do not miss out on this majestic experience for sure. For everyone who wishes to enjoy Ganga Aarti now, you don’t have to travel to Varanasi for it. You can now very well enjoy the vibe of Varanasi sitting within the city itself. So when are you planning to attend this aarti in Kolkata? Also let me know if this article on Kolkata Ganga Aarti is helpful for you in knowing everything about it.
