What does arti mean?
Definition pending review.
nounDefinition pending review.
- A Hindu devotional ritual in which a lamp or camphor flame is circled before a deity, accompanied by singing and prayer.
"The temple glowed with lamplight as the family gathered for the evening arti."
"The evening arti at the riverside temple drew hundreds of worshippers."
"She lit the camphor and began the arti, moving the flame clockwise before the shrine."
Rarely needed; when referring to multiple rituals, writers often prefer "arti ceremonies" or name each rite individually.
"The festival featured morning and evening artis throughout its ten days."
The same flickering flame you'd wave at a Hindu altar gives this little word its whole meaning — arti is literally worship by lamplight.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of arti
"Arti" is a transliteration of a Sanskrit-derived term used across Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, and other South Asian languages for a rite of light. The underlying Sanskrit root relates to the offering or waving of a flame before a deity as an act of devotion. Because the word entered English through transliteration rather than borrowing into everyday speech, several spellings — arti, aarti, arati — coexist in modern usage.
How arti is actually used
"Arti" is a transliteration from South Asian languages and appears in English chiefly in writing about Hindu religious practice; spellings such as "aarti" and "arati" are also common, so consistency within a text matters more than any single form.
Easily confused with arti
"Arty" is an adjective meaning artistically inclined or pretentiously artistic, while "arti" refers to a Hindu ritual of light offered to deities.