Sitting on a chabutra, amidst the sea of humanity attending the Ganga arti organised by Ganga Seva Nidhi at Dashshwamedh ghat is a frail figure, religiously ringing the bell throughout the arti. She is no ordinary devotee; the octogenarian lady has been an inseparable part of the evening ritual, occupying the same spot for the last two decades now.
Usha’s Unbroken Ritual
Usha, who migrated to Varanasi from Murshidabad, West Bengal, some decades ago with her husband, never misses what she calls the seva of Ganga ma (service to the River Ganga). Even amid the most adverse conditions, her intense faith brings her to the Dashshwamedh ghat every single evening.
During the pandemic, when the world had come to a standstill, Usha continued with her undeterred devotion. She would walk down daily to be part of the Ganga arti that had turned symbolic in the Covid phase.
Her saree-clad figure often rubs shoulders with celebrities, literally, as Ganga Arti is a must –do experience for most of them, yet she remains unconcerned and calm. Untouched by the spectacle around her, the only concern for her is Ganga Ma. “I feel immensely blissful every time I am here at the Ganga arti,” she says in broken Hindi, but it is her eyes that are the biggest giveaway. The look of reverence in them makes others look up to her with respect. Mistaken for a saint, other devotees often are seen seeking her blessings.
Usha, who lost her husband a few years back, lives with her son and his family. “With a meagre means of living, this does not stop her from contributing a token amount to our daan patra, which is really overwhelming for us,” says Sushant Mishra, President of Ganga Seva Nidhi.
How She Became Part of the Aarti
Her inclusion in the ritual of Ganga arti was gradual, recalls Sushant. “We didn’t know her personally at first, but when she started coming regularly, we made sure that this mother-like figure had a place in the Ganga arti. Later, while interacting with her, we got to know that she lives in the Dashshwamedh area. Now, no matter how high-profile guests are present in the arti, she gets her due place. Even when the PM and President attended the Ganga arti in the past, she has always been there, chiming the bells,” he says.
During the monsoon season, when the arti shifts to a different location with a limited seating capacity, a place is reserved for her.
