At sunset, young brahmans (priests) perform a one-hour Ganga Aarti Puja ceremony in honor of the goddess Ganga, the mother of all Hindus. This ceremony has been conducted every night for the past 2000 years — 365 days a year, rain or shine. The Varanasi version of the Ganga Aarti is highly choreographed in comparison to other Ganda Aarti ceremonies. Flamboyantly staged, this ritual is filled to overflowing with prayers, incense smoke, loud clanging bells, chants, flowers, and flames.