Sir David Beckham received a traditional Hindu welcome as his charity trip to India continued on Friday.
Britain’s newest knight of the realm is in Mumbai representing UNICEF as a Goodwill Ambassador. He also visited Education Above All, a Qatar-based foundation dedicated to providing quality education and employment opportunities to children in underprivileged communities across the globe.
The 50-year-old star revealed that he was greeted with a traditional welcome dance when he arrived at a school in Visakhapatnam. After a four-hour visit to a local school, Beckham, 50, was greeted with a bouquet of flowers and received the accompanying aarti ritual.
For the uninitiated, the Aarti ritual is a Hindu worship practice that typically involves chanting, lighting licentiousness, and waving lighted lamps in front of a deity.
At one point, the former Manchester United and England footballer’s forehead was adorned with a Hindu tika.
Taking to Instagram, the retired footballer shared a video of his welcome ceremony with the accompanying caption: ‘So touched by everyone’s kindness. Thanks for my traditional welcome and Dal Ki Chaat lessons. Making some beautiful memories in Mumbai.’
Meanwhile, Beckham also met with young children from a UNICEF as part of efforts to make Mumbai a better place to live.
He also shared that he had celebrated tudorwatch in Mumbai and wrote: ‘Had an amazing night celebrating @tudorwatch in Mumbai last night..an incredible setting and amazing people.’
