Arathi clockwise and counter clock wise

vashini · Mar 22, 2011

Dear ILites,
I'm not sure whether this question have been asked and I missed out the thread so I'm querying it out over here. I would really like to know when a arathi is should be performed clock wise and when it should performed counter clockwise.

Can we performed arathi counter clock wise to the bride/bridegroom during nalenggu ceremony?

I really hope any of you can give me some detail explaination regarding this.. I'm confused..

Arunadhri · Mar 22, 2011

Clockwise for the performer looks anticlockwise to the receiver.

Generally for auspicious activities pradakshinam and aarati are performed one way and for inauspicious activities the reverse including reversing the sacred thread by men for pitru karyam.
There is one occasion when this spinning is done both ways. It is when 'casting out the evil eye'.
These are just conventions. Follow the local mores.

Arunadhri