In a momentous occasion for the Indian community in the United Kingdom, the House of Commons celebrated Diwali with Prime Minister Tony Blair lighting the traditional lamp to mark the festivities.
Presiding over the function, attended by more than 100 MPs and 400 guests, Blair said he was "deeply touched by the unity, warmth and joy this festival brings each year and the spirit with which it is celebrated.
Diwali celebrations in White House
"It is a great privilege and pleasure for me to share in the joy of celebrating Diwali with the Hindu community in the House of Commons. Diwali is now celebrated by different communities across the UK and its growing popularity helps to strengthen the bonds between them."
"The prime minister's celebration of Diwali in the House of Commons is a unique achievement in the history of the British parliament," India-born MP Keith Vaz, who organised support from other parliamentarians for holding the event, said.
"The major difference this year is that we have introduced an interfaith element to the celebrations," said Ramesh Kalidai, general secretary of the Hindu Centre for Communications and coordinator for the event. "Leaders of all the main faiths and all three political parties came together at the House of Commons to celebrate and share the universal message of Diwali."
The celebration transformed the members' dining room into a riot of colours as a large statue of Lord Rama looked down upon a splendid display of hundreds of varieties of Indian food, traditional wick lamps, rangoli designs, Indian sculptures and sweets.
Guests included Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, shadow foreign secretary Michael Ancram, chair of the Conservative Party Theresa May and chair of the Liberal Democrats Lord Navnit Dholakia, as well as members of the cabinet, MPs, life peers, community leaders, diplomats, businessmen and faith leaders.
Lauding the contribution of Indians in Britain, Straw said, "The largest contingent of volunteer soldiers in the World War came from India. Out of 1.2 million of these soldiers, 66,000 died, 9,000 were honoured and nine got the Victoria Cross. What you have done for us, we cannot do for you?"
Minister for Transport Tony McNulty, whose constituency in Harrow boasts a 60% Indian population said, "The Hindu festival of Janmashtami falls on September 7 in 2004. Since Parliament will be in session at that time, we would very much like this festival to be celebrated here too."
In a message to the organisers, Charles Kennedy, a leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, said, "The message of Diwali is applicable universally and therefore it is of relevance to people of all ethnicity, backgrounds and cultures."
"The Hindu community in Britain has made a significant contribution to the cultural, economic and social development of our country," shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said.
