“It gives us joy, of course, alongside that hope, the hope that drives your sewa – but also your hard work, your ambition, your aspiration. And a hope for a better future,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his Diwali address at 10 Downing Street in London this week.
Amid spiritual renditions and floral decorations, Starmer celebrated the start of Hindu New Year with music and dance. Award-winning British Indian Kuchipudi dance exponent Arunima Kumar was joined by her young pupils, Arushi Nagaraju and Aishwarya Gupta, as they performed 'Jyotir' – a traditional dance offering, symbolising the victory of good over evil and the values of righteousness, integrity and enlightenment.
Earlier, in a final face-off over Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons with his predecessor in office, Rishi Sunak, Starmer welcomed the tradition of lighting diyas (lamps) on the steps of Downing Street.
Starmer said: “Last Diwali, the Leader of the Opposition and his family lit the diyas outside 10 Downing Street. It was a significant moment in our national story. The first British Asian Prime Minister is a reminder that this is a country where people of every background have fulfilled their dreams, and it makes us all proud to be British.”
Sunak responded: “I became leader of my party during Diwali and I now stand down during that same festival.
“I'm proud to have been the first British Asian Prime Minister, and I am even prouder that it was not that big a deal; and that speaks volumes about the values of the British people, of our country and of this Parliament.”
Meanwhile, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) hosted its special Diwali gathering of community and business leaders as well as parliamentarians at the grand Lancaster House in London.
Catherine West, FCDO Minister for the Indo-Pacific, said: “I hope that the symbol of light can be not just purity and to be something spiritual, but also something which can help us to understand one another.
“As the new government, we're still extremely keen to be getting on with our trade deal, which was meant to be signed a couple of Diwali ago. But we don't mind, what's a Diwali between friends, and so we're very keen to continue to deepen our understanding, to use the symbol of light, which does give us that understanding, and to come together to promote prosperity.”
Following Hindu prayers and reflections on the significance of Bandi Chhor Divas for the Sikh community, the minister joined in some celebratory song-and-dance – from Gujarati dandia to Punjabi bhangra.