Rishi Sunak, the first British-Indian Prime Minister, joined Diwali celebrations in his hometown of Southampton. He visited the Vedic Society Hindu Temple on Radcliffe Road with his family, attending the Aarti ceremony lighting candles, and offering prayers alongside worshippers. The event attracted Hindus from across the south of England, as there are few temples in the region.
Rishi Sunak, the first British-Indian Prime Minister, visited the Vedic Society Hindu Temple on Radcliffe Road in Southampton on Sunday evening for the Aarti ceremony, accompanied by his family.
Sunak was born and raised in Southampton, where his father was a general practitioner and his mother ran a pharmacy. He attended the same Hindu temple as a child.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak joined worshippers at the Vedic Society Hindu Temple in his home city of Southampton on Sunday evening to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Sunak’s wife Akshata Murty, their two daughters, and his parents accompanied him to the Aarti ceremony, where they lit candles and offered prayers.
In a speech to the crowd, Sunak said he was “wonderful to be back home in Southampton” and that the city was where he learned the values of “family, faith, service, education, and hard work” from his parents. He also expressed his admiration for the new generation of Southampton residents who are being raised with the same values.
The event attracted Hindus from other parts of southern England, including Dorset and the Isle of Wight, as there are few temples in the region. Sarika Chandarana, one of the attendees, said that Sunak “was part of our Sunday classes of children coming up learning about Hindu culture and all the different gods and prayers” and that he is “like our family.”
The Sunak family marked Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, by lighting diya candles on the doorstep of Downing Street. Diwali is a five-day festival that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and the start of new beginnings for millions of people of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain faiths.
Hindus light diya candles in their homes and let off fireworks to deter evil spirits during Diwali. Sikhs and Jains also celebrate Diwali by letting off fireworks. Rangoli, creative displays made with petals and sand, are also popular during Diwali celebrations.
Mr. Sunak was born in Southampton in 1980 to Indian immigrant parents. Diwali is a special time of year for the Sunak family, as it is a chance to celebrate their Hindu heritage and culture.
What is Diwali:
Diwali also spelled Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated over five days in the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika (between mid-October and mid-November). The name Diwali means “row of lights” in Sanskrit. The festival symbolizes the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists around the world. It is one of the most important festivals in India and is also celebrated in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries with large Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist populations.
Diwali is celebrated with a variety of rituals and traditions, including:
- Lighting Diyas (clay oil lamps) and candles to symbolize the victory of light over darkness.
- Cleaning and decorating homes to welcome the goddess Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.
- Exchanging gifts and sweets with family and friends.
- Sharing meals and snacks together.
- Watching fireworks displays.
- Attending religious services.
- Diwali is a time for celebration and renewal. It is a time to come together with loved ones and reflect on the past year and look forward to the future.
Here are some of the popular Diwali traditions:
- Dhanteras: On the first day of Diwali, people buy gold and silver jewelry, utensils, and other items to bring good luck and prosperity.
- Choti Diwali: On the second day of Diwali, people clean their homes and decorate them with Diyas and candles.
- Diwali: On the third day of Diwali, people perform puja (worship) to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. They also exchange gifts and sweets with family and friends.
- Govardhan Puja: On the fourth day of Diwali, people worship cows and bulls. They also eat a special sweet called anarase.
- Bhai Dooj: On the fifth and final day of Diwali, sisters perform puja for their brothers, and brothers give gifts to their sisters.(“Bhai” means brother and “Dooj” means the second day after the new moon)
Diwali is a time of great joy and celebration for people of all ages. It is a time to come together with loved ones and celebrate the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.