As time is scarce, distances are great, and our life is burningly fast, often, people find it hard to remain connected to their spiritual sources. It can be difficult for those of whom have left their hometowns, particularly for other countries, to be able to visit temples or even attend traditional rituals. However, with the help of technology the devotion is no longer spatial in character. Those rituals that were previously only practicable in face to face mode are now being practiced virtually – bringing individuals closer to their belief from the comfort of their location. Among the most popular ones are Online Puja and Online Ganga Aarti.

Such online spiritual services are now a godsend for millions of devotees throughout the world. From the special puja for good luck to prayers on your loved one’s birthday or divine Ganga Aarti at the holy ghats of Varanasi or Haridwar, it’s all now at a few clicks distance.

Let’s take a look at what online pooja and Ganga Aarti is about, and why it has come to play such an important role in contemporary spiritual life.

What is Online Puja?

A puja is a religious practice in Hinduism where devotees pray to one or more deities in worship by praying, offering gifts, chanting and doing mantras. Pujas are conducted for many reasons- seeking blessings for health, wealth, peace, or achievement, or those of note such as weddings, anniversaries, new beginnings, or even those to clear obstacles and negativity.

Traditionally, performing a puja was done in the home or at the temple, and under a priest’s direction who was successful with the rituals and Vedic chants. But for people, unable to visit a temple or who have no access to a priest, an online puja is a contemporary solution.

Through online puja, faithful can order a service from a reliable website or app. The qualified priest then performs the puja in a temple or spiritual center, on behalf of the devotee. The whole process is usually broadcasted live, which means the devotee can watch the ceremony either from home having a web-cam, or be provided with a photo or video account of the ceremony after the fact. A lot of platforms as well deliver prasad (blessed offerings) to the home of the devotees after the puja.

What is Ganga Aarti?

Ganga Aarti is India’s spiritually and visually most striking ritual. It is conducted every evening on the banks of the holy river-the Ganga – a holy mother in Hinduism. The aartis that are most well known, are the aartis conducted at Dashashwamedh Ghat, in Varanasi; Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar; and Triveni Ghat in Rishikesh.

In the course of this ceremony, priests in traditional clothes perform a group ritual with big brass lamps, incense, ringing bells, holy chants, with the offerings of light and flowers to river. Everything is full of devotion, energy and peace.

There has been human movement for hundreds of years to see this divine event. Not all people, though, can take that Journey. That’s where a difference comes into effect, and it’s online Ganga Aarti.

What is Online Ganga Aarti?

Online Ganga Aarti is a live or delayed streaming aarti uploaded online through websites or applications or social networking sites. Temples now do install professional video equipment to make the sacred ritual available on screens around the world.

Now anyone who has an access to the internet can watch the ceremony in live mode or follow the footage later. Some websites are so detailed that they will even let devotees sponsor the aarti, give their names for the prayers, or ask for a diya (lamp) to be floated in their name.

Conclusion

Online puja and Ganga Aarti teach us that faith changes, as everything does. Historically, the participation in a religious ritual implied presence on a temple or a sacred spot. Today it may mean hopping on a live stream from the banks of the Ganga, or watching a priest chant mantras for your family through video.

These digital services don’t substitute the blessing of being present, but they do provide something of equal value—access, being present, and inclusion. For those who are far from home, for the elderly who can’t travel or busy professionals wanting to keep faith alive, online puja and Ganga Aarti are lovely links between tradition and technology.

At the end of the day, the divine does not inquire about which place we are in – as long as our hearts are open it does not matter. And these online offerings, which would be accessible from anywhere under the sun, anyone can call upon the divine with love, devotion, sincerity. With this world of distance, online rituals bring the spirit near.