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Chinmaya Mission UK holds first Thames Ganga Aarti

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 10:46 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Chinmaya Mission UK organized the first Ganga Aarti on the Thames.
The ceremony began at 7:15 p.m. at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich on September 13, 2026.
The event was co-hosted with the Totally Thames festival and marked Chinmaya Mission UK’s 75-year anniversary.
Organisers kept all lamps on land and released no offerings into the Thames, emphasizing gratitude, unity and environmental care.

History

Historical Context

Har Ki Pauri, the sacred ghat built by King Vikramaditya in the 1st century BCE, has hosted the nightly Ganga Aarti for decades, a ritual that British upgrades in 1819 added 60 steps to accommodate crowds. Chinmaya Mission UK recently staged a Thames-side Aarti at the Old Royal Naval College, extending the historic river worship to the Indian diaspora.

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Story summary

Chinmaya Mission UK organized the first Ganga Aarti on the Thames.
The ceremony began at 7:15 p.m. at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich on September 13, 2026.
The event was co-hosted with the Totally Thames festival and marked Chinmaya Mission UK’s 75-year anniversary.
Organisers kept all lamps on land and released no offerings into the Thames, emphasizing gratitude, unity and environmental care.

1 / 2