Prince of Wales Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla paid an official visit to Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh, on Wednesday. It was their first destination of nine-day visit to India.
Arriving just before sunset, Their Royal Highnesses took part in the sacred evening Aarti ceremony (ritual of lights), which is an internationally-renowned highlight of Parmarth Niketan's daily activities. Prior to the Aarti, they observed the final offering of a yagna (fire ceremony) for World Peace and Environmental Preservation, led by the President of Parmarth Niketan, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji.
Offering the traditional herbs and seeds into the fire to the rhythm of ancient Vedic prayers, their Royal Highnesses took part in one of the most ancient rituals of the Indian tradition, performed on this occasion as a prayer for a healthy environment and peaceful world.
Following the yagna ceremony, they took part in a Water Blessing Ceremony, led by Pujya Swamiji, in which waters from the world's sacred rivers were offered onto a large globe, symbolising a prayer that all people across the world should have access to safe and sufficient water.
Explaining the ceremony, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan said, "Water is life. Tragically today, too many of our brothers and sisters are living without access to safe and sufficient water.”
“The Water Blessing Ceremony signifies a prayer and blessing that all beings and all creatures on Earth should have access to sufficient and safe, life-sustaining water."
After the Water Blessing Ceremony, a short prayer was held in homage to those who had lost their lives, loved ones, homes, villages, livelihoods and hopes in the tragic Uttarakhand floods this past June.
At the conclusion of the prayers, as songs of peace intermingled with the night's air, gleaming brass oil lamps were set ablaze for a beautiful Aarti ceremony. A beautiful, historic, tangible wave of fellowship swept over all present as their Royal Highnesses, led by Pujya Swamiji and accompanied by young rishikumars (students) from Parmarth's Gurukul (orphanage/residential school) and other ashram residents, waved the brightly-burning lamps, performing the light ceremony described as a "Thanksgiving ceremony to the Divine who blesses us with light."