The aarti thali, a decorated plate holding all the necessary items for performing aarti, brings together the various elements of this central ritual into a single, practical arrangement. Pilgrims sponsoring or personally performing aarti during their Yatra typically use or purchase such a thali.
What Is an Aarti Thali?
An aarti thali is a decorated plate, often made of brass or steel, arranged with the items needed to perform aarti, typically including a lit diya, incense, flowers, kumkum, and sometimes a small bell. Vendors near many temples sell Aarti Thali to pilgrims, and priests can usually explain the correct way to use it during a visit.
Items Commonly Found on an Aarti Thali
A typical aarti thali includes a diya for the central flame, along with incense, flower petals, kumkum, and akshat, allowing the person performing aarti to offer each element in the correct sequence during the ritual. Many pilgrims keep a small amount of Aarti Thali from a significant Yatra as a lasting reminder of that particular temple visit.
Using an Aarti Thali During a Yatra
Pilgrims wishing to personally perform aarti at a temple, or purchase one as a memento for home worship, can typically find a ready-arranged aarti thali available from vendors near most major pilgrimage sites. Regional practices around Aarti Thali vary somewhat across India, though its core devotional purpose remains widely recognised among Hindu pilgrims.
