Aarti is a devotional ritual where light from wicks soaked in ghee is offered to a deity while devotional songs are sung. It is performed during morning and evening puja and marks the high point of Hindu worship.

A Chalisa is a devotional hymn of exactly 40 verses (chalis means 40) praising a deity. The most famous is the Hanuman Chalisa composed by the saint-poet Tulsidas in the 16th century.

When should Aarti be performed?

Aarti is ideally performed at sunrise (Pratah), noon (Madhyahna), sunset (Sayam), and before sleeping (Ratri) — these are the four primary puja times in Sanatan Dharma.

How many Aarti are there in Hinduism?

There are hundreds of Aarti in Hindu tradition — one for each deity, sacred river, sacred day, and festival. Major deities like Shiva, Vishnu, Durga and Ganesha each have multiple Aartis.

What is the difference between Aarti and Bhajan?

Aarti is a specific ritual involving the waving of a lamp before a deity and is performed at fixed times during puja. Bhajan is devotional song in praise of God that can be sung at any time and is not tied to a ritual action.