Aarti is an essential component of Hindu rituals. Lamps are waved before the image of the deity enabling the devotee to do gaze upon the deity better. In other words, aarti facilitates the devotee to do better darshan of the deity. The ceremony draws attention to the philosophy of ‘looking’ that is key to Hinduism. We need to see people, and not just expect them to see us. It goes in line with the ritual of offering ‘silver eyes’ to the deity. We give the deity eyes to see us and thus remind ourselves that we have to see the world around us with better information, more empathy and greater understanding.

In South Indian temple complexes one finds this ritual also having a more social and economic relevance.