RAMNOMI CELEBRATED AT HOUSE OF COMMONS
(19 April 2005)

MPs celebrated the Hindu Festival of Ramnomi at the House Of Commons, with the Hindu Council UK (HCUK) and it's member faith organisations on 18 April 2005. This event, hosted by the Minister of State, Tony McNulty (MP) marked the significant working partnership between the British government and Hindu faith organisations within the UK, and was attended by 270 guests. Anuja Prashar (HCUK Executive) welcomed all the distinguished guests and community leaders, which included the Indian High Commissioner and the visiting Indian Minister of West Bengal.

Anuja said it was apt, that this first celebration, of the birth of Shri Ram ji, at the House of Commons coincides in 2005 with the awakening of the British Hindu community to its own need to engage pro-actively with the machinery of Government and Policy making. Anuja elaborated that the coincidence is remarkable and more significant because Shri Ram was the embodiment of the qualities that all Hindus aspire to as individuals and therefore the qualities that underpin the culture of our communities. Lord Ram demonstrated these qualities throughout his life. The qualities of :

• Respect for the Law of the Land, by obeying his father the King and going into exile in the forest.
• The pursuit of knowledge of his environment, to create harmony & prosperity through good relationships with other forest dwellers regardless of their station or background.
• Courage, self discipline and commitment to purpose to fight back, when his peace & prosperity, his Laxmi, his wife Sita was snatched away from him.
• Valuing the strength of diversity, by respecting partnerships and working together with Hanumanji and other forest communities to overcome adversity.
• Upholding the principle of SEVA, by gaining mastery over personal needs to serve the greater good of the community, when subjecting his Sita to 'Aagni Pariksha' in order to retain community cohesion

The Maharaj from Maha Laxmi Mandir - Lewisham, Bankim Gossaiji enthralled the room full of Parliamentarians and Hindu leaders with a recital of the Ramayan, while Shri Ramesh ji lead the prayer ceremony. There followed speeches from several dignitaries. Kamlesh Sharma, Indian High Commissioner congratulated UK's Hindu Community on the dignity and strength they displayed, through the celebration of their own cultural values and suggested that the spiritual aridity of our times required more of the same.

The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn (MP), Secretary of State for Culture, spoke of the increased developing partnership work between the Indian & British governments, on various projects and welcomed the opportunities for forging greater understanding between the Hindu & British cultures.

Dominic Grieve (MP), Shadow Attorney General, recognised the contribution that the Hindu community has made to British society and encouraged community leaders to take up the challenge of greater partnership working in the future development of a Multi-cultural Britain.

The visiting Minister from West Bengal congratulated the Hindu Council UK and the Hindu community of the UK for it's exemplary ability to develop harmonious and effective relationships within a multi-cultural environment.

Two classical dances, Kathak and Bharat Natyam, were performed by students of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, introduced with explanation by Dr. Shastry ji (HCUK Executive). The audience made up of several Hindu community leaders, Presidents of various Faith organisations and a significant number of Ministers of Parliament, who are involved with Faith and Hindu Community, such as Home Office Minister, Fiona Mactaggart (MP), Adrian Bailey (MP), Lord Dholakia (LibDem) and others, applauded as the three young women performed to the recital of the Ramayan.

Anil Bhanot (HCUK General Secretary) concluded by calling for a greater focus on Inter-Faith dialogue and explained the Hindu pluralistic approach. Anil ji commended the Home Office Faith Unit under, Fiona Mactaggart(MP) for always trying their best and urged religious leaders to begin to move from an already established culture of tolerance, thanks to the work of Inter Faith Network, to developing a culture of genuine respect for each others religions.

Stephen Pound (MP), who chairs the Labour Friends of India at the parliament, reminded us of the ideals set by Lord Ram and how important it is for us not to forget those. Stephen confirmed that Hinduism has a lot to teach the world and he ended by greeting everyone with "Namaste".

Tony McNulty (MP) reaffirmed that he was delighted at the celebrations especially, with the dignity and depth of the explanations that Maharaj, Bankim Gossai ji provided, from the readings of the Ramayan. The values of the Hindu code of conduct was evident in the joyous and gracious manner of the celebrations and Tony declared, to the rapturous delight of all guests, that Ramnomi and Janamashtmi would be celebrated every year at the British House of Parliament.

Click here to visit the Hindu Council website www.hinducounciluk.org.

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