Thousands of people gathered on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday for the first-ever Ganga Aarti in London, a traditional Hindu ceremony of light and thanksgiving.
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Titled “Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light”, the event was organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual Totally Thames festival. It was part of global celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Chinmaya Mission.
The ceremony recreated the spirit of the world-famous Ganga Aarti held along the River Ganges in India. Organisers described it as a symbol of the life-giving flow of nature, knowledge and consciousness.
“For generations, communities have gathered on the banks of Ganga to offer light in gratitude for the river, for nature and for all that sustains life,” said Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, resident teacher of Chinmaya Mission UK, according to PTI.
“Ganga Aarti on the Thames carries that same spirit, bringing people together in a shared moment of gratitude, hope and unity,” she added.
