Aartis are the verses or sonnets (poetic or lyrical) in the form of introductory praise of a God, which is sung during Puja. Aarti also have another meaning. It is a Hindu ritual in which light from wicks soaked in Ghee(purified butter) or camphor is offered to the gods and goddesses. The concept is believed to come from the Vedic concept of fire rituals or Homa. The word Aarti comes from Sanskrit word `Aa` means `towards` and `Rati` means `the highest love for god` and thus is performed to develop the highest love for god.

Aarti is generally performed two or five times daily at the end of Puja. It is conducted during almost all Hindu ceremonies and occasions. It involves the circulating of an `Aarti plate` around an idol and is generally accompanied by the singing of songs in praise. The priest circulates the plate to all those present. They cup their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to the forehead of the devotees, which signifies blessing, passed from the God`s image to the flame that is ultimately transferred to the devotee.

The aarti plate is generally made of metal, usually silver, bronze or copper. On that plate there is a lamp made of kneaded flour, mud or metal which is filled with oil or ghee that serves as illuminant.Sometimes a cotton wick is dipped into the oil and burnt and sometimes camphor is used instead. The aarti plate also contains flowers, incense etc.

Aarti is performed to ward off `evil eye` or malevolent influence of negative powers. Hence aarti is not only done infront of deity,but also to the human beings to keep themselves out of the `evil eye`. It is performed on people of high social and economic status, small children in various rituals, people going or coming back from a long journey or going to perform some important works or a bride and bridegroom when they first enter the house after marriage and in many other cases. It is also performed when a property is newly acquired or before an important task. It is also believed that the idol of god is also susceptible to the `evil eye` and needs regular aarti.

The aarti songs sung infront of gods depict their glory and sometimes also informative about the life of the god. Every aarti song is specific for a particular deity. The most commonly sung aarti in India is that of Lord Vishnu. In the temples aarti is performed generally twice a day, at morning and in the evening after the ceremonial puja and during that time a large number of devotee congregate in the temple premises.

Aarti in Hindu Temples
In the Hindu the priests or the `pujaris` performs temples aarti on a daily basis. The first aarti takes place in the morning and is known as the `mangala aarti`, the next one in the afternoon and the last one in the evening after the sunset. During the aarti ceremony all the devotees accumulate in the temple premises and sing various types of `bhajans` and `kirtans`. The rituals in the performance of aarti vary from place to place but almost every performance includes the following:

The priest first purifies his hands taking water from the sacred cup called `acamana`.

After washing hands he sprinkles three spoons of water over a conch and then blows it thrice.

Following this he lights three or more incense sticks from a ghee lamp standing beside the altar.

The priest then rings a small bell and waves it seven times around the Gods and Goddesses

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He then lights a five-wick ghee lamp from the large lamp and circles around the deities` feet four times, two to three times around their navel, three times to their face and lastly seven times around their whole bodies.

Then he gives one of the deities the lamp who in turn hands it over to all the devotees in the temple room.

After this the priest takes a smaller conch and fills it completely with sacred water. He then waves it three times around the deity`s head and seven times around their bodies. He then pours the whole water into a shaker and gives it to a devotee who takes it round the room and makes it sure that everyone has touched the water.

The priest then offers a cloth seven times around the deities. After that the priest takes a plate of flowers and offers to the rest of the devotees who one by one sniffs the flower.

The aarti performed at South Indian temples are more elaborately performed than those of the North Indian temples. In the Tamil tradition aarti is generally known by the name of `Deepa Aradhanai`.