Historic First Ganga Aarti Held on River Thames in London
· World · The Hindu, PTI, Hindustan Times
Thousands of people gathered on the banks of the River Thames in London on September 13, 2026, for the first-ever Ganga Aarti ceremony of light and thanksgiving. Organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual Totally Thames festival, the event marked part of the global celebrations for the charity's 75th anniversary. The ceremony recreated the ethos of the world-famous aarti by the River Ganges in India, featuring traditional multi-tiered oil lamps, prayer, music, and chanting to express reverence for nature. Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, Resident Teacher of Chinmaya Mission UK, stated that the event carried the spirit of gratitude, hope, and unity. Chaitanya also noted that the River Ganges symbolises the flow of knowledge rooted in the Vedanta philosophical tradition brought to everyday life by the mission's founder, Swami Chinmayananda.
Why it matters
The event highlights the global reach of Indian cultural and philosophical traditions, bringing a major spiritual ceremony to the Indian diaspora and local communities in the UK.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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