VARANASI, India (Diya TV) — The U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, was moved deeply by his recent experience with the Ganga Arati, a spiritual ceremony held at the banks of River Ganges in Varanasi. Garcetti, who had visited the holy city on a diplomatic trip, described the event as “soul-touching” and said the significance of such activities is profound.
Sharing the evening ritual at the Ghats of Varanasi, Garcetti reflected on the ceremony, praising the deeply rooted cultural and religious traditions associated with the Ganga Arati. “Varanasi touched my soul,” Garcetti said. He also said seeing the aarti gave him much greater appreciation of India’s rich heritage. The purification and prayer were very deeply connected in the themes that filled up the ritual.
The Ganga Arati perhaps is the most revered ceremony of Varanasi, always performed at the evening hour, on the steps of Dashashwamedh Ghat. This is an offering of prayer to the sacred Ganges River as referenced by the Hindus. Priests execute this ritual with all its splendor in the form of lit-up lamps and mouthfuls of chants in a perfect synchrony of devotion.
This was a personal as well as a diplomatic moment for Garcetti in every way. He admitted the deep spirituality of India and the people of Varanasi, thanking them for the hospitality. The ambassador also stressed upon the importance of cultural exchange in bringing out Indo-U.S. relations.
Garcetti’s visit to Varanasi also involved deliberations with the local administration and scholars concerned regarding sustainable development and the conservation of the Ganges. According to him, “preservation of the river’s ecological health will be of paramount importance as the mission is imbued with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for cleaning and rejuvenation of the Ganges under the Namami Gange project.”. Garcetti acclaimed the move by stating, “It’s not just an important one for India’s environmental ambitions but crucial for the planet’s ecological balance too.”.
Ambassador Garcetti’s visit happens at a time when relations between the U.S. and India are strengthening, particularly in the spheres of defense, technologies, and environmental initiatives. His experience during Ganga Arati underlined cultural dimensions of diplomacy when Garcetti hoped that such spiritual exchanges can bring both the countries closer.
Varanasi is the destination for the visit of the ambassador following several high-profile visits by leaders around the world to the historic city, which happens to be a significant center of Hindu spirituality and forms an essential part of the charm offensive of diplomacy in India.