3 hrs ago
First Ganga Aarti on Thames Draws Thousands in London
Thousands of people gathered in London for a special Hindu ceremony called Ganga Aarti.
It was held beside the River Thames for the first time.
Ganga Aarti traditionally gives thanks to the River Ganges and to nature.
The ceremony included lamps, prayers, music and chanting.
Chinmaya Mission UK organised it with the Totally Thames festival.
The event also celebrated 75 years of Chinmaya Mission.
Organisers invited people from different backgrounds to share gratitude and respect for nature.
Nothing from the ceremony was put into the Thames, and steps were taken to reduce waste and single-use plastic.
Thousands gathered in London on Sunday for the first-ever Ganga Aarti beside the River Thames.
Chinmaya Mission UK organised the ceremony with the annual Totally Thames festival.
The Hindu ceremony featured multi-tiered oil lamps, prayer, music and chanting.
Organisers presented the event as a celebration of nature, knowledge, gratitude and unity.
The ceremony remained on land, with nothing released into the Thames and measures taken to reduce waste and plastic.
- Who
- Chinmaya Mission UK, spiritual leaders, Hindu organisations and communities across the UK, and thousands of attendees.
- What
- The first-ever Ganga Aarti in London was held beside the River Thames.
- Where
- On the banks of the River Thames in London, against the backdrop of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.
- When
- Sunday, September 14; the articles do not specify the year.
- Why
- To recreate the spirit of the Ganga Aarti, celebrate nature and Vedanta-based knowledge, mark Chinmaya Mission’s 75th anniversary, and bring communities together.
Key facts
- Event
- Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light
- Organiser
- Chinmaya Mission UK
- Festival partner
- Totally Thames
- Attendance
- Thousands of people
- Ceremony elements
- Multi-tiered oil lamps, prayer, music and chanting
- Environmental measures
- The ceremony took place entirely on land; nothing was placed, poured or released into the River Thames
- Anniversary
- The event formed part of global celebrations marking 75 years of Chinmaya Mission
- Chinmaya Mission locations
- More than 350 locations worldwide
Quotes
Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya
Resident Teacher of Chinmaya Mission UK
“The ceremonial lamps will remain on the riverbank rather than being floated on the water, allowing us to honour the spirit of the tradition while ensuring the Thames remains undisturbed.”
thehansindia.com
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
“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.”
theprint.in
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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