arti

Arti, often spelled aarti or arti, is a Hindu ritual of worship in which light is offered to a deity. A traditional arthi involves a plate or thali bearing a lit lamp (diya) or camphor, along with incense, flowers, and sometimes fruit. The lamp is rotated before the image or idol in a clockwise motion while devotees sing hymns or mantras. The ritual celebrates the deity’s presence and is typically performed at the end of a puja or during temple ceremonies. After the arati, prasad, the blessed food, is distributed to participants.

Etymology and scope: The term arati derives from the Sanskrit arāti, referring to an offering of light. The practice is common across Hindu households and temples in India and among many in the South Asian diaspora. The exact form and accompanying songs vary regionally, but the core act remains the same: a devotional offering of light to honor the divine.

Variations and practice: An arati ceremony may be conducted for a single deity or a group of deities. Items on the arati plate can include a diya or candle, camphor, incense, flowers, sacred ash, and sometimes fruit. The circular motion of light is believed to invite benevolence and dispel negativity; after the ritual, participants bow and receive the fragrance and remaining prasad.

Name usage: Aarti is also a common given name in India and Nepal, with alternative spellings such as Arti. In names and devotional literature, it conveys association with worship and devotion. The term is largely used in South Asian cultural contexts, though diaspora communities may encounter it in religious settings and media.