Ganga Aarti reaches River Thames: Thousands gather in London for first-of-its-kind spiritual spectacle

Titled 'Ganga Aarti on the Thames: A Ceremony of Light,' the first-ever Ganga Aarti on the River Thames was held on September 13, 2026, at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London.

The event was organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in collaboration with the Totally Thames Festival, as part of Chinmaya Mission's 75th-anniversary celebrations.

A ceremony of light

The event sought to recreate the spirit of the traditional evening Ganga Aarti performed on the banks of the Ganges in India.

The celebrations began at 4 pm with a range of Indian cultural activities, including community stalls, food, live music and dance.

The main Aarti was held at around 7:15 pm, coinciding with sunset over the Thames, on the Royal Steps of the Old Royal Naval College.

During the ceremony, multi-tiered oil lamps were lit and offered towards the River Thames amid prayers, devotional music and chanting.

Swami Swaroopananda, Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, was among those who participated in the ceremony.

Ganga's spirit meets the Thames

The ceremony was conceived as more than a recreation of a traditional Hindu ritual overseas.

Organisers presented the Ganga as a symbol of the flow of knowledge, consciousness and life, while the River Thames was honoured as a shared source of life and community in London.

The sight of hundreds of illuminated lamps, devotional chanting and music along the historic Greenwich waterfront created a visual reminiscent of the famous ghats of Varanasi and Haridwar, while giving the ancient tradition a distinctly London setting.

Focus on environmental responsibility

Environmental responsibility was also a key aspect of the ceremony.

Unlike traditional practices in which offerings may sometimes be placed in rivers, organisers ensured that no flowers, idols or other offerings were put into the Thames.

The ceremonial lamps remained on the riverbank, ensuring that the waterway was not disturbed during the proceedings.

Indian community comes together

The event brought together members of the Indian community, devotees and visitors from across London.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK P. Kumaran also attended the ceremony.

The gathering served as a celebration of Indian spiritual heritage and culture while bringing the centuries-old tradition of Ganga Aarti to the banks of one of London's most iconic waterways.