Some journeys are etched in our hearts not just for the places we visit but for the people we share them with. In 2018, an artist embarked on a road trip through Uttarakhand—a journey that was not only a test of faith but also an unforgettable experience with family and aging parents. Against all odds, they stood on the banks of the river Ganges in Haridwar, witnessing the mesmerizing Ganga Aarti, a moment so profound that it demanded to be immortalized on canvas in vivid colors for years to come.
But what made this trip so extraordinary? And why does this painting carry the weight of a cherished memory? Step into Sushil’s story behind Ganga Aarti—a painting born from devotion, resilience, and a once-in-a-lifetime journey, in his own words.
A Travel Story by Sushil Kumar
I love to travel and I love to paint. Over the years, I have tried to create paintings that have helped me to Immortalize the memories from my trips. My travels have taken me to many beautiful places across this country and all those memories have a special place in my heart, but some trips turn out to be more memorable than others simply because of the people accompanying you.
A Journey Like No Other
Back in 2018, we undertook a road trip to Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand where my parents also joined me for the very first time. It was a trip that was not easy to plan and execute. My mom’s fragile health was a major consideration and some of the religious places that we were planning to visit were difficult to reach. It was simply a case of God’s grace and my parents absolute devotion that we managed to complete this road trip and create memories that we so fondly talk about till date.
12 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas board
Sushil has been the inspiration behind so many of my journeys—fueling my love for travel stories, endless road trips, artistic pursuits, and poetic musings. His stories are too vast, too profound to be captured in just this micro post. But this is only the beginning—I promise to keep bringing more of his tales to life on this blog, along with his breathtaking paintings. As a heartfelt season’s greeting, he gifted me a print of this painting, a treasure I have preserved like the dearest memories of him, holding onto it as one holds onto moments that time can never fade.
Haridwar: The First Stop of an Unforgettable Trip
It was only apt that I wanted to create a painting inspired from the memories of this trip. Haridwar was the first place that we visited on that trip with Rishikesh, Badrinath and Kedarnath to follow. It was a long standing wish of my parents to visit these places and till that time, we never thought of undertaking this journey, primarily because of the poor health of my mom. So it was really a big leap of faith that we decided to go on a road trip of this magnitude.
Experiencing the Magic of Ganga Aarti
Ganga snan and Ganga aarti were the two rituals that were very high on the agenda of my parents. On the first evening of the trip, after bathing in icy cold waters of Ganga, we occupied a spot on the banks of Ganga and started waiting for the Aarti ritual to start. We were soon joined by a sea of devotees who occupied every available space on that ghat. As the sun was about to go down, the priests started singing the prayers with big lamps swaying in their hands and soon the entire atmosphere turned completely magical. It was indeed a blessing to see my parents joining the crowd singing the prayers and participate in that specatcle.
I wanted to paint that scene to etch in my memory the magic of that blissful evening. This painting is therefore rightly titled as ‘Ganga Aarti’.
My approach for this one was simple. Just wanted to create a scene that immediately takes me to that evening, a sort of anchor to that memory. Two things that took the most time on this one are (I) getting the proportions of the priests relative to each other right and (ii) the lamp fire. Overall, it took a week to finish.
Sushil Kumar
Do you have a travel story that left an everlasting mark on your heart? Have you captured its essence through art—be it a painting, sketch, or any creative expression?
I’d love to feature your journey on this blog! Share your travel story along with your artwork, and let’s celebrate the beauty of experiences that inspire creativity. Submit your story, and you might just see it featured alongside other incredible artists and storytellers.
📩 Send in your story and artwork at vivekvermavisuals@gmail.com.
Let’s bring travel and art together, one story at a time!
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