Overview
The ghanta (Sanskrit: घण्टा, IAST: ghaṇṭā) is the Sanskrit term for a ritual bell used in Hindu religious practices. The ringing of the bell is regarded as producing an auspicious sound, and the instrument occupies an important place in temple worship and domestic rituals alike. In the Tibetan tradition, the related ritual bell is known as drilbu.
Hindu temples generally have a metal bell hanging at the entrance, and devotees ring it while entering the temple. This act is considered an essential part of the preparation for darshan, the auspicious viewing of the deity. The sound is held to mark the worshipper's arrival and to attune the mind to the sanctity of the shrine.
The bell is also rung by the pujari during puja and yajna. It accompanies key moments of the ritual, including the waving of light before the deity, the burning of incense, the bathing of the image, and the offering of food or flowers. The continuous or rhythmic ringing serves to frame these acts of devotion within a sacred soundscape.
Some bells are specially crafted to produce long, sustained strains resembling the sound of Om, the sacred syllable in Hindu tradition. Such bells are valued for the quality of their resonance and the meditative effect attributed to their tone.