Aartis are a common and everyday Hindu ritual, in which lamps made from cotton wicks dipped in Ghee or oil are lit and a prayer in praise of a deity is recited with devotion and love. Camphor balls are also lit as an alternative to oil or Ghee. The lamp is kept in a special Aarti plate or thali and at the end of the Aarti the light or flame is offered to all the persons attending the Aarti, where they put their hands over the flames and then put their hands on their faces and heads to seek the blessings of the deity.
Aartis are performed one or more times daily, depending upon the devotees, generally there is an Aarti in the morning and evening at dusk. Various deities have different weekly days attached to them.
The practice of reciting Aartis is an ancient Hindu tradition which descends from the Vedic period and it is a ritual of offering fire to the deity. This is also said to be Homa or the fire ritual.
