Prime Minister Andy Burnham marked his first Diwali reception at 10 Downing Street with a message of unity, a pledge to strengthen links with India and recognition of the contribution made by British Asian communities to the country.
The celebrations brought a festive atmosphere to No 10 as the Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his wife, Marie-France van Heel, welcomed members of the British Indian diaspora for a reception marking the festival of lights and the official residence was adorned with traditional lights, diyas and floral decorations.
The reception, which coincided with his first 100 days in office, brought together parliamentarians and members of the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Burnham described Diwali as an opportunity to renew a collective commitment to building a more united country, saying his government would continue to support faith communities and their work for the common good.
“It's my first Diwali as Prime Minister and it's wonderful to be sharing it with you here,” he said, welcoming guests to Downing Street. Referring to the significance of the festival, Burnham said he wanted to help restore “the light”, hope, positivity and unity to British politics.
“It's early days, but we've really got to work at it together, and this Diwali I think is a moment to commit to each other,” he said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the contribution of Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Muslim communities to British society, highlighting their role in public services, healthcare and community life.
“Our Hindu community, I know, did so much to build Greater Manchester into what it is today. Our Sikh, Jain communities, our Muslim communities. We are so lucky to live in a country where faith communities like yours, like ours, step forward to help each other and to build common good,” he said. Burnham added that the government would continue to back these communities and pledged to build “the strongest possible links with India”.
He also reflected on recent visits to India by northern mayors, accompanied by the Business Secretary and other ministers, describing the engagements as an opportunity to recognise the contribution of people who had come to Britain and committed themselves to building the country.
“I always said that the reason we went was to recognise how we owe so much to the people who came here to build our country and committed themselves to our country,” he said.
Looking to the future, Burnham said the next generation would build further on that contribution.
“Can I thank you for coming here tonight, but more importantly, thank you for everything that you are doing in your communities to support people, to bring people together, to work in our health service, in our public services, to build the common good of this great country,” he said.
A message of light and belonging
Opening the reception, Kanishka Narayan, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and the event's host, welcomed guests from the British Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities and reflected on what Diwali represents beyond its celebrations.
“The Diwali asks of us a simple question, which is: what will you do with your light?” he said.
Narayan thanked those present for their contributions to their communities, arguing that British Indian identity and attachment to one's heritage were not in conflict with a strong sense of British belonging.
He drew on examples from Wales, where he said British Indians had made a significant contribution to the NHS, cricket and local cultural life. Recalling Diwali celebrations in a village hall, alongside the Welsh male voice choir tradition, he illustrated how different cultural identities could coexist and enrich one another.
“Longing for your heritage, celebrating Diwali, and at the same time feeling deep belonging to your national identity, are held together, not in contest,” he said.
Narayan also referred to the political climate facing British Asian communities, saying that the country's politics had, at times, seen “the light of our politics” flicker in the winds of division.
Praising Burnham, he said the Prime Minister had helped steady those winds and bring the country towards a more stable light. His remarks concluded with a reference to the Bhagavad Gita, which teaches that the flame of a lamp remains steady in a place sheltered from the wind.
A call for compassion and empathy
Visakha Dasi, temple president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, offered a spiritual reflection on Diwali, describing its lights as a metaphor for the knowledge that dispels darkness within the human heart.
Drawing on the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, she highlighted the importance of recognising the happiness and suffering of others as one would one's own. “The wise are those who, by comparison to their own self, see the true equality of all beings, both in their happiness and their distress,” she said, reading from the ancient Sanskrit text.
Against a backdrop of natural disasters and human-made crises around the world, she urged people not to become indifferent to the suffering of others. “To lose this quality of sincere empathy is to lose an element of our humanity,” she said.
Dasi called for greater compassion, kindness and service to fellow human beings, urging guests to work for the welfare of others without seeking personal benefit at their expense. She then invited those present to join her in chanting the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, a prayer seeking engagement in the service of the divine.
The celebration offered complementary perspectives on Diwali: its spiritual message of compassion, its importance to cultural identity and belonging, and its potential to inspire a more hopeful political climate.
For Burnham, the reception was also an opportunity to recognise the communities whose contributions have helped shape Britain and to set out his government's approach to working with them. “Let's commit tonight to keep the lights burning bright, this year into the next,” he said.
“Happy Diwali, everybody. It's wonderful to see you.”
