First-Ever Ganga Aarti on Thames Draws Thousands in London

Thousands gathered along the banks of the River Thames in London on Sunday for the first-ever Ganga Aarti in the UK, bringing an iconic Indian spiritual tradition to the British capital.

Titled “Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light”, the event was organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the annual Totally Thames festival at the historic Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The ceremony was part of global celebrations marking 75 years of Chinmaya Mission.

The ceremony recreated the spirit of the traditional Ganga Aarti performed along the Ganges in India, featuring multi-tiered oil lamps, prayers, music and chanting. Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, took part in the ceremony, which was held against the backdrop of the Thames and Greenwich's historic waterfront.

Brahmacharini Shripriya Chaitanya, Resident Teacher of Chinmaya Mission UK, said the ceremony carried the same spirit of gratitude towards the river, nature and all that sustains life. She said the event also reflected the Mission's belief in the Ganga as a symbol of the flow of knowledge and consciousness.

Environmental responsibility was a key feature. The ceremony was conducted entirely on land, with nothing from the ritual placed, poured or released into the Thames. Organisers also said efforts were made to reduce waste and single-use plastics.

The event brought together spiritual leaders, Hindu organisations and members of the British Hindu and wider South Asian communities, while welcoming people of all backgrounds.

Chinmaya Mission, founded in 1951, now has more than 350 locations worldwide. Totally Thames has celebrated the River Thames through arts, heritage, environmental and educational programmes since 1997.

The event was sold out, raising the possibility that the Ganga Aarti could become a more regular feature of London's cultural calendar.