Darshan Arati takes place after the Deities have been bathed, dressed, and ornamented in the inner altar, symbolising that the Lord is now ready to receive His devotees’ audience and worship. When the conch is blown and the doors open, devotees behold the Deities’ new outfit, jewellery, flower garlands, and altar decorations, experiencing this as a special personal meeting with the Lord.

The kirtan at this time is usually the recorded or sung “Govindam adi‑puruṣaṁ” prayers from Brahma‑saṁhitā, glorifying Krishna as the original Supreme Person and expressing the devotee’s longing to serve Him eternally. While this is sung, the pujari offers a short arati with ghee lamp, incense, flowers, camara, and - in warm weather - a peacock fan, moving each item in graceful circles before the Deities as a sign of honour and love.

Spiritually, Darshan Arati represents the Lord mercifully revealing Himself to the conditioned souls and inviting them into a personal relationship through seeing (darshan), hearing (kirtan), and offering the heart in prayer. For many devotees, this becomes a daily “reset” of consciousness - fixing the mind on Krishna’s beautiful form in the morning, offering obeisances, and then carrying that remembrance into all activities of the day.