U.K. Parliament celebrates Deepavali with prayers, candles

It marked the largest Deepavali event of its kind in the Parliament complex, which brought together cross-party parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and ISKCON representatives

Prayers for peace recited by priests from the Hare Krishna Temple and the lighting of candles marked this year’s Deepavali celebrations in the Houses of Parliament complex in London.

The celebration was held in the State Rooms of the Speaker’s House, described as the grandest residence within the Palace of Westminster, on Monday evening.

It marked the largest Deepavali event of its kind in the Parliament complex, which brought together cross-party parliamentarians, diplomats, community leaders and International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) representatives.

“I would like to wish all communities celebrating Deepavali peace and joy, both here and across the world,” said Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Opposition Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer joined Bhaktivedanta Manor ISKCON Temple President Visakha Dasi, veteran Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma and Liberal Democrat House of Lords peer Navnit Dholakia to light the candles following prayers concluding with ‘Om Shanti’.

“It’s fantastic to be in the State Rooms of the Speaker and what this demonstrates is the true diversity of the United Kingdom, that we are able to celebrate Deepavali, one of the most important celebrations in the Hindu calendar, in the Palace of Westminster,” said Indian-origin Conservative Party MP and event co-host Shailesh Vara.

“It is a loud message to the 1.6 million British Indian people who live here. It’s also a message to the rest of the world about our diversity,” he said.