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HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Asthipushpa Visarjan, London, UK

18 Jun 2017

Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj performs the final rituals before the scattering of Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj's holy ashes in the River Thames

Sadhus officiated the Vedic ceremony

15 urns carrying the holy ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj were to be ritually blessed

The ceremony was a conclusion to the mahapuja performed at the Mandir in the morning

Swamishri bathes Harikrishna Maharaj with water from the Thames, as had Yogiji Maharaj in 1970 and Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1974

Swamishri performs pujan of Pramukh Swami Maharaj's holy ashes

Each urn (kalash) is ritually blessed

Swamishri performs arti of Harikrishna Maharaj and the kalashes

Swamishri concludes the ritual ceremony

Swamishri greets devotees waiting eagerly on Westminster Bridge

Swamishri then arrived at the stern of the boat...

... and engaged in kirtans extolling the divine virtues of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

More than 3,000 devotees had gathered in the heart of the capital on a glorious hot summer Sunday afternoon

They came from all over the UK and other countries to offer a heartfelt tribute to their beloved guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj

The devotees lined the route, including along Westminster Bridge

They devoutly watched as the ceremony commenced aboard the 'River Princess' boat...

... with the iconic Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) in the backdrop

When the boat neared the embankment...

... Swamishri turned with folded hands...

... greeting the devotees humbly and lovingly

Devotees remained engrossed in the darshan of Swamishri and the ceremony...

... rejoicing in this historic moment

As Big Ben's famous clock chimed past 6 o'clock...

... Swamishri emptied more kalashes into the Thames...

... thus further blessing the city of London with the holy ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Devotees participated in the ceremony by offering their own flower petals

Swamishri graciously looked on at the devotees...

... as the devotees gratefully received the darshan of Swamishri

Swamishri greeting more devotees with folded hands

Swamishri scatters the holy ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj into the River Thames

Several marine and port authorities of London had granted permission for the special ceremony

The ceremony was conducted through a dedicated service provider in accordance with British Law

Swamishri greeting more devotees with folded hands

Devotees hail the 'Jai Naad' from the embankment

For some, it was also a poignant moment, saying another farewell to their beloved guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Swamishri continued to greet the devotees along the route

Young and old had gathered to be a part of this special occasion

Swamishri looks up at...

... devotees lining Westminster Bridge

As the boat passed under the Bridge...

... he held aloft his hands in humble acknowledgement of their devotion

Devotees revelled in the darshan of this historic occasion

Swamishri humbly conveyed onto Harikrishna Maharaj the devotion of all those who had gathered

The route also passed Lambeth Pier and Lambeth Bridge, the latter seen here in the background

The two-hour ceremony covered some of the most iconic landmarks of London's skyline...

... including 'London Eye'

The 'River Princess' passing London Eye and the Battle of Britain Memorial

Swamishri with Harikrishna Maharaj in front of London Eye

Swamishri greets devotees lining along the north embankment, near the Palace of Westminster

Swamishri greets devotees with Harikrishna Maharaj

Swamishri greets devotees with folded hands

Swamishri with Harikrishna Maharaj in front of the iconic Houses of Parliament

This evoked fond memories of Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Westminster in 1988, when he was honoured in the House of Commons by Members of Parliament

Swamishri concluded the ceremonies with the sadhus after almost two hours aboard the boat

Swamishri shares a light moment with sadhus

Swamishri with sadhus after scattering the holy ashes of Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the River Thames in London

Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj performs the final rituals before the scattering of Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj's holy ashes in the River Thames

Sadhus officiated the Vedic ceremony

15 urns carrying the holy ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj were to be ritually blessed

The ceremony was a conclusion to the mahapuja performed at the Mandir in the morning

Swamishri bathes Harikrishna Maharaj with water from the Thames, as had Yogiji Maharaj in 1970 and Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1974

Swamishri performs pujan of Pramukh Swami Maharaj's holy ashes

Each urn (kalash) is ritually blessed

Swamishri performs arti of Harikrishna Maharaj and the kalashes

Swamishri concludes the ritual ceremony

Swamishri greets devotees waiting eagerly on Westminster Bridge

Swamishri then arrived at the stern of the boat...

... and engaged in kirtans extolling the divine virtues of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

More than 3,000 devotees had gathered in the heart of the capital on a glorious hot summer Sunday afternoon

They came from all over the UK and other countries to offer a heartfelt tribute to their beloved guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj

The devotees lined the route, including along Westminster Bridge

They devoutly watched as the ceremony commenced aboard the 'River Princess' boat...

... with the iconic Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament) in the backdrop

When the boat neared the embankment...

... Swamishri turned with folded hands...

... greeting the devotees humbly and lovingly

Devotees remained engrossed in the darshan of Swamishri and the ceremony...

... rejoicing in this historic moment

As Big Ben's famous clock chimed past 6 o'clock...

... Swamishri emptied more kalashes into the Thames...

... thus further blessing the city of London with the holy ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Devotees participated in the ceremony by offering their own flower petals

Swamishri graciously looked on at the devotees...

... as the devotees gratefully received the darshan of Swamishri

Swamishri greeting more devotees with folded hands

Swamishri scatters the holy ashes of Pramukh Swami Maharaj into the River Thames

Several marine and port authorities of London had granted permission for the special ceremony

The ceremony was conducted through a dedicated service provider in accordance with British Law

Swamishri greeting more devotees with folded hands

Devotees hail the 'Jai Naad' from the embankment

For some, it was also a poignant moment, saying another farewell to their beloved guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Swamishri continued to greet the devotees along the route

Young and old had gathered to be a part of this special occasion

Swamishri looks up at...

... devotees lining Westminster Bridge

As the boat passed under the Bridge...

... he held aloft his hands in humble acknowledgement of their devotion

Devotees revelled in the darshan of this historic occasion

Swamishri humbly conveyed onto Harikrishna Maharaj the devotion of all those who had gathered

The route also passed Lambeth Pier and Lambeth Bridge, the latter seen here in the background

The two-hour ceremony covered some of the most iconic landmarks of London's skyline...

... including 'London Eye'

The 'River Princess' passing London Eye and the Battle of Britain Memorial

Swamishri with Harikrishna Maharaj in front of London Eye

Swamishri greets devotees lining along the north embankment, near the Palace of Westminster

Swamishri greets devotees with Harikrishna Maharaj

Swamishri greets devotees with folded hands

Swamishri with Harikrishna Maharaj in front of the iconic Houses of Parliament

This evoked fond memories of Pramukh Swami Maharaj at Westminster in 1988, when he was honoured in the House of Commons by Members of Parliament

Swamishri concluded the ceremonies with the sadhus after almost two hours aboard the boat

Swamishri shares a light moment with sadhus

Swamishri with sadhus after scattering the holy ashes of Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj in the River Thames in London