RISHIKESH
Larger, more choreographed, and more photogenic than Triveni Ghat's aarti, with resident students chanting — but donation baskets circulate aggressively during the ceremony; a firm 'no' works fine, no obligation to give.
Parmarth Niketan ashram was founded in 1942 by Pujya Swami Shukdevanandji Maharaj; since 1986 it has been led by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, under whom it grew into the largest ashram in Rishikesh with over 1,000 rooms. The now-famous sunset Ganga Aarti held on its riverside Ganga-facing amphitheater was formally started in 1997, and today draws hundreds to thousands of devotees, tourists and pilgrims of all backgrounds nightly. The ashram has also hosted the International Yoga Festival since 1999, in partnership with the Uttar Pradesh (later Uttarakhand) tourism department.
