Now Reading: Varanasi-style Ganga Aarti set for London’s River Thames on September 13
-
01
Varanasi-style Ganga Aarti set for London’s River Thames on September 13
Varanasi-style Ganga Aarti set for London’s River Thames on September 13
A traditional Ganga Aarti will be held on London's River Thames on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. The main ceremony begins at 7:15 pm, recreating the sunset ritual from Varanasi's ghats beside the Thames. The event is free with registration.
Organised by Chinmaya Mission UK in partnership with Totally Thames, the programme runs from 4 pm to 8 pm and includes Indian food, live music, dance, and children's activities. Organisers call it a symbolic meeting of the Ganga and Thames rivers. The ceremony is open to all faiths.
The organisers have banned immersion of flowers, idols, or offerings in the Thames to protect the waterway. The eco-friendly approach seeks to preserve the ritual's spirit while respecting London's river. The event marks a rare replication of a centuries-old Indian riverside tradition on a major Western river.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Chinmaya Mission UK, an affiliate of the global Chinmaya Mission founded by Swami Chinmayananda in 1953, has organised similar cultural events in the West for decades, including 'Festival of the Ganga' in the US. The partnership with Totally Thames, which runs the annual Thames Festival, is a smart blend: the Ganga Aarti at Greenwich, a UNESCO World Heritage site, taps into London's existing riverside festival calendar. The key test for organisers will be attendance: similar diaspora-focused events in London draw between 2,000 and 5,000 people. The next date to watch is September 13, when turnout and eco-compliance will determine if this becomes an annual fixture.
Source: news.abplive.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
