The 2nd Scottish Parliament Diwali was celebrated on Fri (13th Nov), virtually, on the auspicious day of Dhanteras (1st day of the 5 days of Diwali festival).
Puneet Dwivedi, Vice President Hindu Forum Britain (HFB) Scotland Chapter, took the lead in organising the Diwali event, which was co- chaired by multi party MSPs including Rachael Hamilton (Scottish Conservative), Sandra White(SNP) and Alex Cole-Hamilton (Scottish Lib Dem).
Last year Diwali was celebrated for the first time in Scottish Parliament – it was a first of its kind of celebration ever, in Scottish parliament, to bring the rich & diverse Hindu culture to the distinguished attendees.
The reception held in the Parliament last year brought the Scottish Hindu community members at the heart of the most important political establishment giving a platform for leaders to share their experiences and views on Scottish integration and cohesion.
A much bigger Diwali event was planned at Scottish parliament this year. However, due to the COVID crisis and Government restrictions The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) decided to cancel all events, including the Member Sponsored event.
Diwali is a festival of Light and Hope, and at this time of difficulty, the need for such festivals that brings light into our world has never been more important.
The Scottish team HFB led by Puneet with the help of volunteers from Edinburgh and Aberdeen including – Sumit Gupta, Mithun Sarkar, Madhu Vasumathy, Bably Sinoj worked really hard to collect videos, messages putting, editing and production. Dr Richa Singh, another volunteer from Glasgow helped in planning the event and running order.
Representatives from all the major temples (Edinburgh Hindu Mandir, Glasgow Hindu Mandir, ISKCON Scotland, Dundee Temple as well our newest member Aberdeen Hindu temple), Armed forces officers, along with other interfaith community members celebrated the lunar festival, Diwali, from home using Zoom, the event was also streamed on Hindu Forum Britain’s Facebook page.
The hour and half long programme combined the important religious elements of the festival with an exciting package of entertainment, featuring local artists and performers.
Puneet Dwivedi, in his opening remarks said that during these unprecedented times we are unable to meet in person or conduct the Diwali Event at Scottish Parliament. However, as someone once said “the show must go on, if we can’t visit the Parliament – Parliamentarians and ministers can visit us (virtually). Thanks to technology, this year Diwali will be from home.”
The event was kick started by Deep Prajwalan (lightning of the lamps) and Live Vedic chanting by Edinburgh Hindu temple’s Priest Pandit Harsharan ji.
The most beautiful part of the event was when everyone lit the diyas, lamps, candles, tea lights from their home and showed them in front of their zoom camera. In Hindu culture, lighting a lamp denotes dispelling away darkness. Light and brightness represent the positive, the good, and and the highest knowledge of the Divine.
There were Indian Cultural dance performances from Shaswati from Aberdeen and Kirsten Newell of COSMIC Dance Academy, Edinburgh. ISKCON Scotland recorded a divine Kirtan music which was enjoyed by everyone.
Dance by 13 year old Shashwati V from Aberdeen: https://youtu.be/AKpd9b-iWkI
Dance by Kirsten Newell of Cosmic Dance, Edinburgh : https://youtu.be/mt0X2LbcmIs
Devotional Music band from ISKCON Scotland, Leshmahagow (Lanarkshire )
Interfaith organisations including Shia Muslim Organisation – The Scottish Ahlul Bayt Society (SABS) member Mr Asif Sheikh and Director of Interfaith Scotland Dr Maureen Sier were Live and shared whereas the pre-recorded Diwali messages from Humanist Society Chair – Maggie Kinloch and Scottish Jewish Council Chair Alan Kay were played during the live event.
Rachael Hamilton the 1st Co-chair in her speech highlighted the contribution of Indian and British community in the field of Art, culture, enterprise and sports.
She said: ‘Tonight celebrating Diwali would be a different experience, despite Pandemic, I thank Puneet for organising this fabulous virtual Diwali Celebration, for being so resourceful ensuring we can still celebrate virtually.’
She further added to celebrate the bond of the UK, the oldest democracy and India, the world’s largest democracy. She stated her admiration for the value of Hinduism and how Hindus celebrate the goals of life that we all aspire to, and this is so important that we instil these values to our next generation.
Rachael said that looking at the Holyrood election next election 2021, it’s important that Scotland is represented equally, for this reason we need a more diverse and inclusive parliament. She finished with Diwali wishes for everyone watching and mentioned now more than ever in these challenging time, we need the source of light more than ever and there is no doubt it, we are living through dark days
Mrs Trupti Patel, President of Hindu Forum Britain, did Namaste and welcomed Scottish parliamentarians, she mentioned that this Diwali would be different, no fireworks together, no colourful celebration in groups but thanks to technology of webinar and streaming the world is connected together.
She mentioned that Diwali is such a wonderful celebration of light and positivity, should be celebrated in all parliaments of the world So that the world knows we respect others, the Hindus are tolerant and respect and welcome everyone.
She encouraged more young Hindu people to participate in local council, at Scottish Government level and some MSPs from Hindu background, which could bring a whole system of Hindu values of co-existing and being together.
She also mentioned what can be a better way to celebrate Diwali on interfaith week, we all faith are one, we respect all faith and do Namaste – and bow down to the divine within you. She congratulated Puneet and the Scottish HFB team for putting together so much effort in organising the event.
Next Speaker to speak was Co-chair MSP Alex Cole Hamilton – who started with chanting “Jai Shri Ram” which made other participants thrilled to shout back Jai Shri Ram.
Alex mentioned that during this pandemic he attended many zoom meetings however this one was the most enjoyable zoom meeting with dance and song and other cultural elements into it.
He mentioned Diwali is a spiritual triumph of light over darkness. 2020 has darkness which many of us have never seen in our lifetime for all the reasons we know.
However, it feels like darkness is dispelled and the light of hope rising with change in America to hope for Scottish Football with Scotland first qualification in a major tournament that certainly brings light to many, also most importantly the vaccine is just around the corner we will be together again.
Sewa means ‘selfless service’. Video of Sewa by Scottish Hindu Community video: https://youtu.be/EX5Hmj-Yj5k
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government Ms Aileen Campbell started her speech by showing her colourful Indian dupatta (Wrap) presented to her last Diwali at Scottish Parliament.
In her speech she mentioned this is the perfect opportunity to recognise, celebrate and learn the contribution of faith communities in Scotland, including the Hindu community especially as this is interfaith week and also International Day of Kindness, Aileen mentioned how these dates aligned to amplify the celebration.
She mentioned 2020 is really a year where we need more light and lot of hope and that’s Diwali key message to have hope and light prevails over darkness. Diwali is also time for reflection and contemplation to think about people who are less fortunate and COVID 19 has bought these to limelight and she was thankful to Hindu community for their selfless Sewa (services) to mankind during this pandemic.
She mentioned that Hindu Forum Britain would continue to play a key role as a voice for the Hindu community is heard not only during a pandemic but in normal times, for Scottish Government would look forward to building this relationship.
She said that this was her last celebration of Diwali as Cabinet Secretary however it won’t be her last one beyond her life of politics. Although she is not standing for next year’s election, she wanted to encourage young people of multicultural diverse backgrounds to participate and add to the vibrancy of the parliament.
She also mentioned that Scottish Government has announced a £470k fund for a leadership development program for minority to ethnic young people. Although she had arguments with Alex, Rachael and other political opponents in parliament, all of them are united at this message to bring diversity and equality in parliament.
MSP Sandra White, who was the main sponsor of last year’s Diwali at parliament said she has experienced the colour and vibrancy of Diwali last year.
Sandra who is also stepping down for next Holyrood election, has been involved in frontline politics for the majority of her life and one of the longest serving MSP in Holyrood. She emphasised that everyone who lives in the community has rights to be represented and she is pleased that her Constituency (Glasgow Kelvin) put forward BAME female candidate Ms Kaukab Stewart.
In her closing remark she encouraged youngsters: “If I can do, you can do and it will stand true till date” and mentioned being happy to chat over phone or zoom to anyone from Hindu community if they want to be part of active politics.
Mrs Manjulika Singh, MBE said the Vote of Thanks and program ended with Live Aarti and peace prayer from Glasgow Hindu temple, where Acharya ji Mishra invited NHS Doctors to light the lamps as a way to show gratitude for their hard work during this crisis.
The preparations for this event started a few weeks ago and intensified in the few days with so many tasks being coordinated and completed. It was this tremendous team spirit that resulted in resounding success of Diwali celebrated in this unusual way for the first time. Diwali’s message is a timely reminder of the light at the end of the dark tunnel and the collective strength of unity.
HFB takes this opportunity to thank you for your participation and contribution to the event and look forward to welcoming you back to parliament next year.
Puneet Dwivedi
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Great to see Hindu Community in Scotland, so resourceful and manage to host virtual Diwali. I love this festival of light, there is lot to learn from Hindus and make huge contribution to our country.