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IN PHOTOS: Beautiful glimpses of the first-ever Ganga Aarti on River Thames in London

Updated On: 15 September, 2026 10:37 AM IST | Nascimento Pinto

Thousands of devotees gathered on the banks of the River Thames on Sunday for the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a ceremony of light and thanksgiving, in London. Here are some beautiful glimpses of prayer, song and dance

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The Ganga Aarti was organised on September 13 evening seeing a lot of devotees in attendance. Photos Courtesy: PTI
The Ganga Aarti was organised on September 13 evening seeing a lot of devotees in attendance. Photos Courtesy: PTI
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'Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light' was organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual 'Totally Thames' festival, as part of the global celebrations marking 75 years of the charity. Recreating ethos of the world-famous aarti by the River Ganges in India, the event in London was conceived as a symbol of the life-giving flow of nature, knowledge and consciousness.In this photo, Swami Chidanand Saraswati takes part in a "Ceremony of Light: Ganga Aarti on the Thames" traditional Indian ritual, in the Greenwich area of south-east London on September 13
'Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light' was organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual 'Totally Thames' festival, as part of the global celebrations marking 75 years of the charity. Recreating ethos of the world-famous aarti by the River Ganges in India, the event in London was conceived as a symbol of the life-giving flow of nature, knowledge and consciousness.In this photo, Swami Chidanand Saraswati takes part in a "Ceremony of Light: Ganga Aarti on the Thames" traditional Indian ritual, in the Greenwich area of south-east London on September 13
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Swami Swaroopananda, global head of the Chinmaya Mission, takes part in a "Ceremony of Light: Ganga Aarti on the Thames" joining Swami Chidanand Saraswati among other devotees in London
Swami Swaroopananda, global head of the Chinmaya Mission, takes part in a "Ceremony of Light: Ganga Aarti on the Thames" joining Swami Chidanand Saraswati among other devotees in London
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A man dances as he takes part in the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a traditional Indian ritual usually observed along the Ganga river, that was recreated on the River Thames
A man dances as he takes part in the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a traditional Indian ritual usually observed along the Ganga river, that was recreated on the River Thames
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Participants take part a "Ceremony of Light: Ganga Aarti on the Thames" traditional Indian ritual, in the Greenwich area of south-east London on September 13
Participants take part a "Ceremony of Light: Ganga Aarti on the Thames" traditional Indian ritual, in the Greenwich area of south-east London on September 13
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Dancers arrive to take part in the ceremony as they joined several other devotees to observe the traditional Indian ritual in London
Dancers arrive to take part in the ceremony as they joined several other devotees to observe the traditional Indian ritual in London

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