The world-famous Neasden Temple – BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London – along with BAPS temples and centres across the UK welcomed tens of thousands of devotees and well-wishers to celebrate Diwali and the Hindu New Year. The vibrant festivities, filled with joy and cultural richness, brought together people of diverse ages and backgrounds from local communities.
Devotees and well-wishers joined in various devotional and cultural activities. UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham joined the celebrations at the BAPS mandir in Manchester.
Rayner said: “The message of Diwali – the message of light and hope – I think it is an incredible message to give to people at the moment when we have had some difficult times over the last number of years with the pandemic, and the unrest you see internationally – it is nice to see that message of hope coming through to our community.”
UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting attended the festivities at the BAPS mandir in Chigwell, London.
A key focus of the celebrations was the Annakut – a beautiful array of sweets, snacks, fruits, and savoury dishes, along with a myriad of other food items, that were offered to the deities as the first meal of the New Year in a profound spirit of reverence, adoration, and thanksgiving.
The High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, joined the celebrations at Neasden Temple: “Here [at Neasden Temple], you see the cycle of life, the cycle of faith, and most of all, through the Annakut, you see the cycle of service – this enormous and impressive display of bhakti (devotion).”
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha said the enthusiastic participation around the country underscores the significance of Diwali and the Hindu New Year as a celebration of harmony and reflective of Britain’s rich multicultural heritage.
This year, Neasden Temple also contributed to Diwali celebrations at a number of community events, including at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where BAPS volunteers supported Chinmaya Mission and the National Hindu Students Forum (NHSF) to bring a heart-warming spirit of joy and togetherness to the children, families, and dedicated hospital staff. Other events included Diwali in London at Trafalgar Square, at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West and with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street.