London’s Thames witnessed Ganga Aarti; watch thousands gather

On the banks of the River Thames, London witnessed the first-ever Ganga Aarti ceremony, a symbol of light and gratitude for nature, on Sunday. Organized by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual Totally Thames festival, this event marked 75 years of the charity and aimed to recreate the essence of the famous Ganges aarti in India. Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, Resident Teacher of Chinmaya Mission UK, explained that the ceremony brought together people in a shared moment of gratitude and hope.

The Ganga Aarti symbolises the flow of knowledge, with its River Ganges representing the spread of wisdom, as Swami Chinmayananda, Chinmaya Mission's founder, dedicated his life to bringing Hindu philosophy to people's lives. The aarti, a traditional Hindu ceremony involving oil lamps, prayer, music, and chanting, expressed reverence for the river and gratitude for Mother Nature.

To ensure the Thames remained undisturbed, the ceremony took place entirely on land, with ceremonial lamps remaining on the riverbank. Measures were taken to minimise waste, reduce single-use plastics, and ensure responsible treatment of the environment. The event saw senior spiritual leaders and representatives from Hindu organisations and communities across the UK gather to celebrate the British Hindu and South Asian community, inviting people of all backgrounds to come together in gratitude and reverence for nature.