Parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and representatives of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) from various political parties joined in the Diwali program organized on the Parliament premises.
New Delhi: On the occasion of this year's Diwali celebrations in the UK Parliament complex, priests of the Hare Krishna temple light candles and offer peace prayers. The ceremony was held on Monday evening in the State Room of the Speaker House, located within the Palace of Westminster.
Parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and representatives of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) from various political parties attended the Diwali program held in the Parliament complex. "I wish all communities here and around the world to celebrate Diwali peacefully and joyfully," said Commons President Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
Candles lit with the prayer of 'Om Shanti'
Leader of the opposition Labor Party Sir Keir Starmer, Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON Temple chair Vishakha Dasi, Indian-origin Labor MP Virender Sharma and Liberal Democrat House of Lords colleague Navneet Dholakia lit candles with a prayer of 'Om Shanti'.
Important message to the world
Indian-origin Conservative Party MP and co-host of the event Shailesh Vara said, “It is wonderful to be in the Speaker's State Room. It is the diversity of Britain that we celebrate Diwali, the most important festival of the Hindu calendar, here at Westminster Palace."
He said, “This is an important message for the 1.6 million British Indians who live here. It's also a message to the rest of the world about our diversity."