First-ever Ganga Aarti held on River Thames in London

The first-ever Ganga Aarti was held on the River Thames in London, organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the Totally Thames festival. The event, titled “Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light”, brought people together in a shared moment of gratitude, hope and unity, organisers said.

The ceremony symbolised the life-giving flow of nature, knowledge and consciousness. For generations, communities have gathered on the banks of the Ganga to offer light in gratitude for the river and nature, the organisers explained. Chaitanya of Chinmaya Mission UK said the River Ganges also symbolised the flow of knowledge for the mission. “Our founder, Swami Chinmayananda, dedicated his life to bringing the timeless wisdom of Vedanta — one of the great philosophical traditions of Hinduism, from the Himalayas into people,” he added.