London: For the first time, British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown today celebrated Diwali at the 10
Downing Street, as the Labour leader and his wife lit a lamp
placed amid idols of Lord Rama, Krishna from the Swaminarayan
Mandir.
"This is a great day for Downing Street, a great day
for us and a great day for Britain to welcome you to celebrate
Diwali for the first time in Downing Street," Brown said while
welcoming top NRIs, including the Indian High Commissioner to
the UK Nalin Surie and leading India-born industrialist Lord
Swraj Paul.
"This is a historic event and all of you deserve our
congratulations for your contribution to Britain," he said, as
the celebration was held at the office-cum-residence of the
British premier in an impressive manner for the first time in
its history.
Brown said it was also an occasion to celebrate the
strengthening of the relations between Britain and India.
He noted that Indians in the UK have contributed a
great deal for the success of Britain, be it in the field of
business, art, culture, education and various other diverse
fields.
Referring to the presence of a large number of youth,
he described the youth as the "future of the country" and said
"let us all work together to deal with poverty and injustice
any where in the world."
The Prime Minister and his wife, Sarah Brown lit the
Diwali lamp.
Idols of Lord Rama, Krishna from the Swaminarayan
Mandir was kept there. Also on display was a variety of sweets
and different kinds of lights.
Keith Vaz, the ethnic Indian origin Labour MP, said
India's well-known artist M F Hussain, who was also present on
the occasion, would donate one of his arts works to 10 Downing
Street.
Hussain told news agencies he would donate one of the existing
piece of art work to the Prime Minister. He said he planned to
return to India and Government of India has indicated to him
that he should come back to India.
"Government is working out a plan and I plan to go
back at the earliest," he said.
Among other dignitiaries present on the occassion
included leading entrepreneur Sir Gulam Noon and top hotelier
Joginder Sangar.
In the United States, the festival of lights got an
official recognition as American President Barack Obama
celebrated Diwali by lighting a lamp at the White House amidst
chanting of Vedic mantras.
Obama become the first US President to personally
grace the function held at historic East Room in the White
House yesterday, as several eminent members of the Indian
community, nearly half a dozen members of his Cabinet and
several Indian American members of his administration were
present on the historic occassion.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, October 17, 2009, 00:21