Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, and David Lammy, Shadow Foreign Secretary joined tens of thousands from the local community and beyond at Neasden Temple to celebrate Diwali and the Hindu New Year on Monday 24 October and Wednesday 26 October 2022. Diwali is the Hindu ‘Festival of Light’, when hope, compassion and goodwill are harnessed and celebrated.
Neasden Temple embodied these themes during this year’s festivities which coincided with the centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the creator of Neasden Temple. His message, “In the joy of others lies our own”, inspired the ‘Community Food Drive’ in which Neasden Temple and other BAPS Hindu temples around the country will donate food items to local food banks and shelters supporting those impacted by the ongoing cost of living crisis.
The festivities began on Monday, the day of Diwali, which included a beautiful pyro-musical fireworks display that illuminated the skies of north London high above the Temple domes. The event brought together friends and families of all faiths and backgrounds to enjoy the colours, sounds and flavours of Diwali.
The Temple heralded the Hindu New Year on Wednesday 26 October. As part of the festivities, visitors were able to see the ‘annakut’ – hundreds of food dishes lovingly prepared, artistically arranged and devoutly offered to the deities by worshippers in thanksgiving as the first meal of the New Year. The sanctified food was later distributed among devotees, volunteers, and visitors.
Addressing the congregation, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I want to thank everybody involved in this Mandir – the swamis, trustees, volunteers – you are a beacon for the wonderful religion of Hinduism. One of the greatest teachings of His Holiness [Pramukh Swami Maharaj] is ‘In the joy of others lies our own’ – which this Temple teaches. You make me proud to be the mayor of this great City.”
Reflecting on the donation of food from the Mandir, Mr Lammy commented: “It is particularly poignant to know that people will receive nourishment and support from this great Temple.”
HE Doraiswami encouraged everyone to bring “friends, neighbours and people from all communities” to be blessed equally by “this wonderful Temple” and “share its compassion.”
Yogvivekdas Swami, head of Neasden Temple, further explained, “Diwali and the Hindu New Year bring values of goodwill, charity and harmony across communities in the UK, which have perhaps never been more important than today. Our celebrations this year revolved around serving those who need us more than ever as we tackle these adversities together.”
