DAILY AT 6PM 

WHEN THE SUN SINKS BEHIND THE WESTERN SKYLINE, WHEN SHADOWS THICKEN AND MERGE IN THE ENVELOPING GLOOM, WHEN FROM THE HORIZON THE CARPET OF STILLNESS SPREADS ACROSS THE TWILIT WORLD, A SIMPLE RITUAL IS PERFORMED IN SCORES OF ASHRAMAS AND THOUSANDS OF HOMES IS ADORATION OF A BEING KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS SRI RAMAKRISHNA. IN A SPECIAL ROOM OR CORNER OF A ROOM SET APART FOR HIS UNSEEN PRESENCE, INCENSE IS BURNT AND LIGHTS ARE WAVED, AND OFTEN THERE IS GROUP SINGING OF SONGS AND HYMNS OF PRAISE AND SUPPLICATION - Swami Bhajanananda. 

TWILIGHT IS THE TIME BETWEEN DAWN AND SUNRISE AND BETWEEN SUNSET AND DUSK. SUNLIGHT SCATTERED IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE ILLUMINATES THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE, AND THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH IS NEITHER FULLY LIT NOR COMPLETELY DARK, GIVING IT A MYSTIC VIBE. OWING TO THE UNUSUAL QUALITY OF THE AMBIENT LIGHT AT THIS TIME, TWILIGHT HAS LONG BEEN POPULAR WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS, PAINTERS, AS ALSO SIGNIFICANT FOR THE POETS, MYSTICS AND SPIRITUAL SEEKERS. AS THE BIRDS SCATTERED IN THE MORNING IN SEARCH OF FOOD FLY BACK TO THEIR NESTS AT DUSK, THE MIND NATURALLY AND SPONTANEOUSLY TURNS INWARD AT THESE JUNCTIONS. THAT IS WHY SRI RAMAKRISHNA URGES, ''DURING THE TWILIGHT HOUR OF THE DUSK YOU SHOULD GIVE UP ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES AND REMEMBER GOD'' 

IT IS A HINDU TRADITION TO LIGHT A LAMP BEFORE STARTING ANY AUSPICIOUS EVENT OR RITUAL. LIGHT SYMBOLISES THE ABSENCE OF DARKNESS, GRIEF AND UNHAPPINESS. AT THE END OF THE ARATI WE PLACE OUR HANDS OVER THE FLAME GENTLY AND THEN TOUCH OUR HEAD AND EYES AS A MARK OF RECEIVING GRACE. WE PRAY THAT THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE ILLUMINATES OUR VISION SO THAT OUR THOUGHTS BE NOBLE AND BEAUTIFUL. 

LIGHT IS SALUTED THUS: ''I SALUTE THE LIGHT THAT BRINGS AUSPICIOUSNESS, PROSPERITY, GOOD HEALTH, ABUNDANCE OF WEALTH, AND DESTROYS THE ENEMIES OF INTELLECT.''