Thousands of lights will be lit along Moncton’s Riverfront this weekend.

It’s a tradition from India, being held for the first time in North America.

It’s called the Ganga Aarti and Sahasra Deepostav, “When we talk about Ganga Aarti which is the worshipping of the river, which is a source of life. This has also been done by the First Nations for a long time, because they say the men are the fire carriers and the women are the water carriers. Since the river provides a source for all the people, Indians have been following this for many, many years,” says Spokesperson Martin Matthew.

It is a symbolic offering of light and prayer to the river, signifying the spiritual connection between human life and nature.

Sahasra Deepostav translates to “thousand lamps festival.”The purpose of Sahasra Deepostav is to illuminate the surroundings with the glow of a thousand lamps, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. It represents the celebration of knowledge, wisdom, and the dispelling of ignorance,” he adds.

Around 500 families from across the Maritimes, including Halifax, Fredericton, Charlottetown and Moncton have already registered to take part, and they are expecting another 300 to 400 families.

“We have so many people joining in. This would be a beautiful event where more people will come and understand how wonderful and what harmony this creates, not just for the people but also for the businesses,”Matthew says.

The event will be held December 2nd from 4 until 6pm at Riverfront Park in Moncton.

They ask that you register for the event first if you are planning to attend.