Prince Charles and Camilla have started a nine day tour of India.
The future king and his wife have visited the holy city of Rishikesh on the banks of the sacred Ganges where they joined Hindu worshippers conducting the Aarti ceremony.
It is performed every sunset by devotees who wave ghee-burning oil lamps as a symbolic thank you to God for lighting the world.
India has 600 million Hindus.
With the foothills of the mighty Himalayas looming in the distance, Charles told gathered trainee priests and their leaders: 'It's a particular joy to join you here on the banks of the Ganges this evening because it is, above all else, my first visit to the Ganges and so from that point of view it is a very special occasion for both myself and my wife.
'But we also wanted just to stress how deeply we felt for all those people who suffered so dreadfully as a result of the awful floods in June - our thoughts and prayers were so much with those families who have had to suffer the appalling catastrophe.'
This is the third and most extensive trip to India by Prince Charles and Camilla since they married in 2005. They will travel the length and breadth of the vast nation and the trip is designed to highlight and strengthen the relationship between Britain and her Commonwealth ally India - the world's second-largest nation and largest democracy - which was ruled by Britain for 200 years until August 1947.
Charles and Camilla's sunset ceremony by the sacred river: Royal couple take part in traditional Hindu fire ritual on banks of Ganges
Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall embark on their third and most extensive Indian tour as a couple
The trip is designed to highlight and strengthen the relationship between Britain and the Commonwealth country
It began today with the traditional Hindu Aarti sunset ceremony on the banks of the River Ganges in Rishikesh
Meanwhile back at home, Prince William visits St Giles Trust, which helps ex-offenders break out of cycle of crime
By Harriet Arkell
6 November 2013
Daily Mai
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall tonight took part in a solemn ceremony of thanks with Hindus on the banks of the River Ganges.
In the holy Hindu city of Rishikesh, the prince led his wife by the hand to the banks of the sacred river where they joined Hindu worshippers conducting the Aarti ceremony.
It is performed by devotees every sunset who wave oil lamps burning ghee - a symbolic thank you to God for lighting the world.
Giving thanks: Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall take part in a Hindu ritual at Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the banks of the River Ganges in Rishikesh
The couple were welcomed by the Hindu guru Swami Chidanand and his leading disciple Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, both dressed in orange robes, who draped a garland of marigold blooms around their necks and strings of beads.
With the foothills of the Himalayas looming in the distance, Charles told gathered trainee priests and their leaders: 'It's a particular joy to join you here on the banks of the Ganges this evening because it is, above all else, my first visit to the Ganges and so from that point of view it is a very special occasion for both myself and my wife.
'But we also wanted just to stress how deeply we felt for all those people who suffered so dreadfully as a result of the awful floods in June - our thoughts and prayers were so much with those families who have had to suffer the appalling catastrophe.'
The devastating floods are estimated to have killed 5,500 people with many deaths in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, the first stop on Charles and Camilla's tour, and forced tens of thousands to be evacuated during the summer.
The pair had arrived in India today at the start of a nine-day tour designed to strengthen ties between the Commonwealth nation and the UK.
The royal couple were met at Jolly Grand airport in Derhadun by the British High Commissioner to India, Sir James David Bevan, before heading to the banks of the River Ganges where they took off their shoes for the traditional Aarti sunset ceremony.
The Duchess of Cornwall wore a turquoise tunic and she and her husband each wore poppies for the Hindu ceremony in the holy city of Rishikesh, which marked the start of their third, and most extensive, tour of India as a married couple.
The royal couple was given small Aarti lamps and joined other participants in circling them clockwise in a ritual designed to give thanks for the light of the day
Warm welcome: Surrounded by students from the local ashram, the Prince and Duchess took part in the traditional ceremony on the bank of the Ganges
The couple crossed the river by boat to the Gita Bhavan landing stage near the Parmarth Ganga Ghat, where they were greeted by officials from the nearby Parmarth Niketan ashram.
They were then led by a number of Rishikumars - young boys in colourful yellow robes who live and study at the ashram - to where they could remove their shoes in private before the daily ritual, in which lamps are lit and devotional songs sung, began.
The Prince and Duchess were then escorted by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj down to the river bank to observe the havan ceremony in which prayers were offered to a sacred fire.
Their Royal Highnesses were then presented with shawls, a sacred rudraksh sapling, and a small container of holy water from the Ganges, before they sat on the steps and listened to traditional songs.
Hinduism is the majority religion in India, with some six hundred million Hindus currently living in the country. There is also a Hindu majority within the British Indian population.
The essence of the Aarti ceremony is to thank God for the light which he has provided throughout the day. In thanking God for the light of the sun and the light of life, the idea is to offer back the light of thanks, the light of love and the light of devotion.
It is the couple's third official tour to India since they married in 2005, and will also be their most extensive, seeing them travel the length and breadth of the vast country
The Duchess of Cornwall wore a turquoise tunic and white flowing trousers while her husband wore a grey suit for the first day of their Indian tour
Sacred sapling: The British visitors appeared to enjoy their sunset trip to the banks of the River Ganges - their third official trip to India as a couple
Enjoying themselves: The Prince of Wales, who was covered in garlands at the ritual, has a particular interest in inter-faith understanding and religious tolerance
The Aarti ceremony is performed every day, regardless of weather conditions, and participants hold small lamps and sing religious songs
The Prince, who has a strong interest in religious understanding between faiths, makes regular visits to major faith communities both in the UK and overseas.
During the tour, the royal couple will travel throughout India, experiencing its diverse people and cultures. The Duchess will carry out some solo engagements, focusing on her interests in literacy, osteoporosis and equestrianism.
Read more: Prince Charles and Camilla in Rishikesh as they embark on tour of India | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
The future king and his wife have visited the holy city of Rishikesh on the banks of the sacred Ganges where they joined Hindu worshippers conducting the Aarti ceremony.
It is performed every sunset by devotees who wave ghee-burning oil lamps as a symbolic thank you to God for lighting the world.
India has 600 million Hindus.
With the foothills of the mighty Himalayas looming in the distance, Charles told gathered trainee priests and their leaders: 'It's a particular joy to join you here on the banks of the Ganges this evening because it is, above all else, my first visit to the Ganges and so from that point of view it is a very special occasion for both myself and my wife.
'But we also wanted just to stress how deeply we felt for all those people who suffered so dreadfully as a result of the awful floods in June - our thoughts and prayers were so much with those families who have had to suffer the appalling catastrophe.'
This is the third and most extensive trip to India by Prince Charles and Camilla since they married in 2005. They will travel the length and breadth of the vast nation and the trip is designed to highlight and strengthen the relationship between Britain and her Commonwealth ally India - the world's second-largest nation and largest democracy - which was ruled by Britain for 200 years until August 1947.
Charles and Camilla's sunset ceremony by the sacred river: Royal couple take part in traditional Hindu fire ritual on banks of Ganges
Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall embark on their third and most extensive Indian tour as a couple
The trip is designed to highlight and strengthen the relationship between Britain and the Commonwealth country
It began today with the traditional Hindu Aarti sunset ceremony on the banks of the River Ganges in Rishikesh
Meanwhile back at home, Prince William visits St Giles Trust, which helps ex-offenders break out of cycle of crime
By Harriet Arkell
6 November 2013
Daily Mai
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall tonight took part in a solemn ceremony of thanks with Hindus on the banks of the River Ganges.
In the holy Hindu city of Rishikesh, the prince led his wife by the hand to the banks of the sacred river where they joined Hindu worshippers conducting the Aarti ceremony.
It is performed by devotees every sunset who wave oil lamps burning ghee - a symbolic thank you to God for lighting the world.
The couple were welcomed by the Hindu guru Swami Chidanand and his leading disciple Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, both dressed in orange robes, who draped a garland of marigold blooms around their necks and strings of beads.
With the foothills of the Himalayas looming in the distance, Charles told gathered trainee priests and their leaders: 'It's a particular joy to join you here on the banks of the Ganges this evening because it is, above all else, my first visit to the Ganges and so from that point of view it is a very special occasion for both myself and my wife.
'But we also wanted just to stress how deeply we felt for all those people who suffered so dreadfully as a result of the awful floods in June - our thoughts and prayers were so much with those families who have had to suffer the appalling catastrophe.'
The devastating floods are estimated to have killed 5,500 people with many deaths in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, the first stop on Charles and Camilla's tour, and forced tens of thousands to be evacuated during the summer.
The pair had arrived in India today at the start of a nine-day tour designed to strengthen ties between the Commonwealth nation and the UK.
The royal couple were met at Jolly Grand airport in Derhadun by the British High Commissioner to India, Sir James David Bevan, before heading to the banks of the River Ganges where they took off their shoes for the traditional Aarti sunset ceremony.
The Duchess of Cornwall wore a turquoise tunic and she and her husband each wore poppies for the Hindu ceremony in the holy city of Rishikesh, which marked the start of their third, and most extensive, tour of India as a married couple.
The royal couple was given small Aarti lamps and joined other participants in circling them clockwise in a ritual designed to give thanks for the light of the day
Warm welcome: Surrounded by students from the local ashram, the Prince and Duchess took part in the traditional ceremony on the bank of the Ganges
The couple crossed the river by boat to the Gita Bhavan landing stage near the Parmarth Ganga Ghat, where they were greeted by officials from the nearby Parmarth Niketan ashram.
They were then led by a number of Rishikumars - young boys in colourful yellow robes who live and study at the ashram - to where they could remove their shoes in private before the daily ritual, in which lamps are lit and devotional songs sung, began.
The Prince and Duchess were then escorted by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj down to the river bank to observe the havan ceremony in which prayers were offered to a sacred fire.
Their Royal Highnesses were then presented with shawls, a sacred rudraksh sapling, and a small container of holy water from the Ganges, before they sat on the steps and listened to traditional songs.
Hinduism is the majority religion in India, with some six hundred million Hindus currently living in the country. There is also a Hindu majority within the British Indian population.
The essence of the Aarti ceremony is to thank God for the light which he has provided throughout the day. In thanking God for the light of the sun and the light of life, the idea is to offer back the light of thanks, the light of love and the light of devotion.
It is the couple's third official tour to India since they married in 2005, and will also be their most extensive, seeing them travel the length and breadth of the vast country
The Duchess of Cornwall wore a turquoise tunic and white flowing trousers while her husband wore a grey suit for the first day of their Indian tour
Sacred sapling: The British visitors appeared to enjoy their sunset trip to the banks of the River Ganges - their third official trip to India as a couple
Enjoying themselves: The Prince of Wales, who was covered in garlands at the ritual, has a particular interest in inter-faith understanding and religious tolerance
The Aarti ceremony is performed every day, regardless of weather conditions, and participants hold small lamps and sing religious songs
The Prince, who has a strong interest in religious understanding between faiths, makes regular visits to major faith communities both in the UK and overseas.
During the tour, the royal couple will travel throughout India, experiencing its diverse people and cultures. The Duchess will carry out some solo engagements, focusing on her interests in literacy, osteoporosis and equestrianism.
Read more: Prince Charles and Camilla in Rishikesh as they embark on tour of India | Mail Online
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Last edited:
