LET THERE BE LIGHT

Shefali Saxena Tuesday 18th October 2022 12:55 EDT
 
 

Diwali is always celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil. After two long and tedious years of surviving the pandemic, amidst all odds, and socio-political and economic crises, the community emerged victorious. What the community has achieved with its dauntless spirit and service in any capacity in the past months is nothing less than winning a battle. This year, families will truly get to celebrate the festive season together without any restrictions and hassle. Many British Indians who were lucky to avail visas in time have travelled to India to celebrate Diwali with family this year. Starting from Navratri and Durga Puja this month, leading into Dussehra and now Diwali, those celebrating are elated to celebrate the festival of lights. While political parties, parliamentarians, including the Mayor’s Diwali at Trafalgar Square have already marked the auspicious occasion, public and community members look forward to a special but sustainable Diwali. Prayers for peace recited by priests from the Hare Krishna Temple and the lighting of candles marked this year’s Diwali celebrations in UK’s Houses of Parliament.

Sharing his Diwali message for the readers of Asian Voice, Rt Hon Jake Berry MP, Chairman of, the Conservative Party said, “The greatest reminder of that courage is when we commemorated the 50th anniversary this year of the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by the brutal dictator Idi Amin. The commemorative services and exhibitions across the country reflected the sheer resilience of the British Hindu community in the UK in facing the expulsion. Diwali is therefore also a timely opportunity to pay tribute to the outstanding contribution of the British Hindu community at large. Your contribution to all walks of life is what makes this country so great.

 

“Unfortunately, the community tensions faced by the British Hindu community earlier this year have naturally been very disturbing, particularly to such a peaceful and integrated community. Freedom of religion is the cornerstone of British life and I strongly condemn all forms of racism and discrimination in our society. In doing so, I fully support efforts to protect the British Hindu community and raise awareness about forms of Hinduphobia which has no place in society.” (See P18 for his  EXCLUSIVE interview) 

 

Wishing a ‘Happy Diwali’ to our readers, former Home Secretary Rt Hon Priti Patel MP for Witham said, “The spiritual significance of Diwali is one of hope over despair, light over darkness and good over evil: something we should all celebrate and has been embraced across the country. This year will mark the first time since 2019 that we have been able to come together and celebrate as we normally would, and I know that homes, Mandirs and Gurdwaras across the country will be filled with happiness and joy as we recall the inspirational story of Rama and Sita, the strength of their unity and friendship and the defeat of Ravana. At this most auspicious of times, we can reflect on and celebrate the fantastic contributions that the Indian Diaspora continues to make to life here in Britain, and the historic ties between the UK and India.”

 

Newly wedded Neelam Heera (Founder, Cysters) and Kal Shergill’s first Diwali as a married couple promises to be a special one. Speaking to Asian Voice, Neelam said, “This year, Diwali is going to be very different for us as we are a newly married couple. We've recently brought our first home and can't wait to invite our families to join us in celebrating this auspicious time. Seeing both our families come together is a blessing and we are forever grateful. We are looking forward to lighting our first Diya at home and attending the Gurdwara together and spending time reflecting on Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji's determination and striving for justice for all the political prisoners held alongside him. For us lighting a Diya is a reminder that light will vanquish the dark. We wish everyone love and light this Diwali.”

 

Refraining from any flamboyance

Anirban Mukhopadhyay is thoughtfully celebrating Diwali and Kali Puja this year as he acknowledges that there’s a long road ahead to recovery. Anirban told us, “Kali Puja and Diwali are important religious and celebratory events for us, the Bengalis and we will join in as a community group. Whilst we are coming out from the dark days of the Covid period, we are also conscious of the difficult times the British economy is going through and the imminent energy price and the Ukraine war issue here and would  refrain from any flamboyance in our celebrations.”

London Kalibari Puja is due to take place on 24th October at Harrow Arts Centre where prasad will be distributed after completion of anjali. 

 

Diwali programme of the Hindu Forum of Europe

Ragasudha Vinjamuri BCAa, FRSA believes that India is certainly a singular country in the world that has diverse celebrations and festivals all year. Unique, special, and firmly grounded in the cultural ethos and epics, Diwali stands out as a special time of the year when the celebration of victory over evil, and triumph of the light over the darkness is marked. Speaking to the newsweekly, Ragasudha said, “While historical, spiritual, mythological, and divine significance is deeply ingrained in the festival, as a dancer and cultural commentator, this festival time marks a special context for me. Communicating aspects of the story of Diwali through dance has been of utmost gratification and I am thankful to different organisations and organisers for giving me an opportunity to do so. My students also get to present dance on the occasion, which gives me fulfilment as their teacher. This year I would also be participating in the Diwali programme of the Hindu Forum of Europe and community organisations in Europe. It is not just the fireworks that would lighten up and enhance our joy, it is also the togetherness with the like-minded (the Satsang), making our family and friends proud through what we do, and setting an example for our young generation will be the spirit of the festival. After all, triumph has different connotations and measures at different layers. Pearls are not found on the surface, but in the deep waters. Our involvement with Art and Culture should be so, and Diwali enables me to delightfully share the cultural side of the occasion.”

A learning experience for youngsters

For the last few years, many young British Indians have not been able to visit home during the festive season, which also implies that they’ve missed witnessing the grandeur of cultural practices that make Diwali one of the most important Hindu religious festivals. Cllr Sharad Kumar Jha looks forward to enjoying with friends, forgetting the various challenges of life for a moment, eating delicious culinary delights, wearing festive dresses and brightening the mirthful air with sparkles and illuminating firecrackers. “Celebrations by different communities keep the jubilance last for nearly a month. It's an authentic model to create an amicable bond in society. The younger generation comes to know about our culture and spread the merriment further with renewed exuberance,” he told Asian Voice. 

 

 Preserving cultures

Anupa Singh, who lives with her family in London for the past 13 years said, “As we are living far away from our home country, we try our best to give our kids the experience and knowledge of our Hindu festivals and culture. Diwali is one festival which is close to our hearts as it’s an occasion and reason for all the families to come together and celebrate. Over the years I have been celebrating Diwali with my family and some of our very good friends. We decorate our houses with rangoli, wear traditional Indian clothes, cook Indian food, play healthy poker/ bingo/ dumb charades, listen to varieties of Hindi songs and then burn some fireworks at the end. It’s the occasion my kids look forward to just like the way we used to do when we were kids in India. I want to take my kids to India at Diwali time and show the essence of this festival and how it is celebrated throughout the country with passion, love and happiness, but till that time comes me and my husband try our best to show the importance of this festival to them here and how this one festival brings so much joy and happiness at our home.”

A multicultural Diwali

Adhilakshmi Ganapathi based in Peterborough said, “Deepavali for me is the most favourite festival. Being a south Indian Tamil, we celebrate Deepavali in the morning by doing prayers, wearing new clothes and having an elaborate traditional Diwali breakfast like idli, vadai, adhirasam, suzhiyan, sambar, chutney and many others. I make sure my children are home enjoying the festivity and never miss any small joy. Every year we play fireworks followed by delicious dinner in the evening with friends who are family here.” She has also invited a British family for dinner over the weekend. “Our family is looking forward to this exciting evening to show them how we celebrate Diwali of course with loads of Indian sweets, food and little fireworks at the end. Celebrating this way my children learn our culture and traditions while abroad whatever small way it is,” Ganapathi told us. 

 

During the festive period, we do advise our readers to stay safe and adhere to Met Police guidelines for the safety of their homes. Make sure there is no place for a burglar to hide, and keep your garage and shed closed. If you’re going out to attend events, close all your windows and doors properly. Track your parcels and gifts from loved ones online to prevent doorstep delivery burglary. 

 

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UK-India FTA to miss its Diwali deadline?

Ignorance is bliss, but one cannot overlook the recent developments in the ongoing UK-India Free Trade Agreement which has allegedly been derailed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman. The final round of negotiations of the FTA for which Indian PM Narendra Modi was rumoured to visit London this Diwali has missed its deadline. Braverman said that she feared a trade deal with India would increase migration to the UK when Indians already represented the largest group of visa overstayers. The Times newspaper has reported, quoting Indian government sources, that ministers in India were “shocked and disappointed" by the “disrespectful" remarks made by Braverman. Also, a report in Politico claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's UK visit during Diwali to sign the FTA is now not likely to happen.


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