Historic! The tradition of Varanasi has now reached distant Britain. The 'Ganga Aarti' was held for the first time on the banks of the River Thames in London on Sunday. The special event was titled 'Ganga Aarti on the River Thames: A Ceremony of Light'. It was organized by an organization called 'Chinmoy Mission UK'.
Many people gathered on the banks of the Thames at sunset. The entire square was decorated with hundreds of lamps. The 'Ganga Aarti' was organized in conjunction with the annual 'Total Thames' festival. The program was taken up on the occasion of 75 years of 'Chinmoy Mission UK'. The famous picture of Varanasi, Haridwar appeared on the banks of the Thames. This special 'Ganga Aarti' was organized to symbolize the life-giving flow of nature, knowledge and consciousness. Brahmacharini Sripriya Chaitanya, Teacher-in-Residence at 'Chinmoy Mission UK' said, “For generations people have gathered on the banks of the Ganga to offer lamps in gratitude to the river, nature and all that sustains life. The Ganga Aarti organized on the banks of the Thames reflects the same sentiment. It brings people together in a collective moment of gratitude, hope and unity.”
Sripriya explains that the river Ganges near the Chinmoy Mission also symbolizes the flow of knowledge. In his words, “Swami Chinmayananda, the founder of the organization, dedicated his life to Vedanta. It is one of the great philosophical traditions of Hinduism – to bring eternal wisdom from the Himalayas into the daily lives of people. Besides celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Chinmoy Mission, this event is also a celebration of that tradition.”