Senior faith leaders in Britain, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols and the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis have voiced strong support for the Platinum Jubilee Beacons and urged their communities to take part.
In an unusual move, in the run-up to Accession Day on 6th February, leaders from the nine faith communities (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Zoroastrian, Bahai), united by admiration for HM The Queen, have congratulated Her Majesty on seventy years as monarch and encouraged their members and communities to celebrate by lighting beacons in her honour. Through their leadership, the faith and community leaders represent millions of people in the UK, and in some cases, internationally too.
Building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant Royal celebrations, over 1,500 Platinum Jubilee Beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth on the first evening of the four-day Jubilee Weekend (on Thursday 2nd June 2022). The Beacons will enable local communities to join together and pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events.
The Revd Canon Hilary Barber and Mr Narendra Waghela, Co-Chairs, on behalf of the Interfaith Network Board for the UK Board of Trustees, said: “On behalf of the Trustees of the Inter Faith Network for the UK we are delighted to offer our warm support for The Platinum Jubilee Beacons programme which forms part of the official celebrations of 70 years since the accession of Her Majesty The Queen. Service is a key value in all faith traditions and faith communities throughout the UK come together in many contexts in a spirit of friendship to serve others. “
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth said, “In Jewish tradition, the lighting of a flame accompanies many of our most important religious observances, representing the point at which the material and sacred meet. The fragile flame conveys the profound lesson that spirituality cannot manifest in the world if we do not cultivate and protect it. The values that we share as a nation are similarly fragile. Mutual respect, the rule of law, liberty and equality are so frequently tested and often drowned out by other competing interests. During the course of her reign, Her Majesty The Queen has been a beacon of light, often through periods of darkness.”
Visakha Dasi, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor (of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness) said, “In acknowledgement of the Platinum Jubilee, we will be asking the extensive community of Bhaktivedanta Manor to light traditional clay diva lamps in their homes to represent the beacon of appreciation and celebration of the Queen’s reign, and recite passages from the Bhagavad Gita that truly exemplify Her Majesty’s qualities.’
Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary, Hindu Council UK said, “The Platinum Jubilee marks 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, making her the first British monarch to reach this milestone. The Hindu Council UK and our temples up and down the country will join others to celebrate this momentous occasion by lighting beacons and offering prayers for the Queen’s long life. We will also take this opportunity to thank Her Majesty for her service in promoting the principles of unity, equality, and justice amongst the diverse peoples of the Commonwealth these past 70 years.’
Trupti Patel, President, Hindu Forum of Britain said, “We the Hindu Community in the UK wish Her Majesty The Queen healthy and happy years to follow. She is a true Karama yogi (Selfless Sewa by action) with a splendid track record of historic 70 years of service to humanity. She represents a true Nari-Shakti (women empowerment) and is an inspiration to many women across the world. I encourage Hindus in the UK and across the Commonwealth to light a beacon in celebration of the Queen’s prosperous reign.”
Lord Singh of Wimbledon, Director at Network of Sikh Organisations UK said, “I feel the Beacons Project is an excellent way to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of HM The Queen; a joyous event in the UK and many countries abroad. Beacons in different parts of the UK and Commonwealth will shine a light on HM The Queen’s important contribution to values that we as Sikhs support, including selfless service and respect for all faiths and beliefs.”
Jasvir Singh OBE, Chair of City Sikhs said, “The lighting of The Queen’s Jubilee Beacons is a wonderful way of marking 70 years since she came to the throne. Her life has been dedicated to serving the British public and the wider Commonwealth, and this is a good opportunity for Sikh communities and all of us to come together in celebration and thank her for that unwavering service.”
Dr Natubhai Shah, Founder Chair/CEO of the Jain Network said, “On behalf of the Jain community and with the greatest respect, I have the deepest honour to pay tribute to Her Majesty The Queen’s historic 70 years of service to the country and Commonwealth.
“On a personal note, I have been fortunate to meet her on many occasions such as Commonwealth services at Westminster Abbey, Garden parties at Buckingham Palace and Thanksgiving services at St Paul’s Cathedral. Her warmth and hospitality at more private occasions are also cherished memory.
“The Jain community will celebrate the occasion with special events involving diverse communities and the lighting of lamps (beacons) at our centres.”
Krish Raval OBE, Director, Faith in Leadership said, “‘I encourage friends of all faiths to light The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons across places of worship and centres of community all over the UK and beyond. The Sovereign’s sacrificial and sacramental bond of duty over seventy years resonates with the deepest teachings on service and sacrifice, and it pulls together people of every race, religion, generation, occupation and background into an unprecedented and healthy plurality. Interconnected in our hopes and dreams of a better world, may the Jubilee Beacons reflect the progress and goodwill represented by a remarkable reign.”
