The celebration at the PM’s official residence, attended by community leaders and top politicians, involved prayers, lighting diyas, a speech by the PM and traditional Kuchipudi dance performance.
New Delhi: Meat and alcohol were allegedly served at the Diwali party hosted by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10, Downing Street, offending British Hindus present at the function. The celebration at the PM’s official residence, attended by community leaders and top politicians, involved prayers, lighting diyas, a speech by the PM and the traditional Kuchipudi dance performance.
Some British Hindus, however, expressed shock to see Lamb kebabs, beer, and wine in the dinner menu for the guests, reports suggest.
Last year, meat and liquor were not on the menu when Rishi Sunak, then PM, hosted the event.
Satish K Sharma, a prominent British Hindu pandit, hit out at the Prime Minister’s office of a “complete lack of sensitivity and simple consultation”.
“For the last 14 years or so, the Diwali celebration at 10, Downing Street has been without meat and alcohol. I am disappointed and quite shocked that this year’s celebration seemed to be an inebriated meat-induced stupor-dominated event. It’s a tragedy that the prime minister’s advisers would have been so careless and negligent,” he said in a video statement posted on X.
If it was accidental, it was still disappointing, and if deliberate, the Prime Minister has sent a message to the British Hindu community, read Sharma’s post.
Insight UK, a social movement of British Hindus and Indians, said “the religious significance of Diwali should not be undermined…”
In a statement on Instagram, Insight UK said: “Diwali is not just a time for festivity, but also holds a deeply religious meaning. The sacred festival of Diwali emphasises purity and devotion and hence traditionally involves vegetarian meals and strict avoidance of alcohol. The choice of menu at the Diwali celebration hosted by the prime minister himself displays an appalling lack of understanding or respect for the religious traditions associated with the festival of Diwali. It also raises the pertinent question of whether Hindu community organisations and religious leaders were consulted for greater cultural sensitivity and inclusivity.”
Insight UK has written to No.10 asking them to issue a statement on it and offering to advise them on religious sentiments going forward.
