Rishi Sunak is joined by his wife Akshata and daughters as they light candles in Downing Street to mark Diwali
Rishi Sunak was joined by his family as they lit candles in Downing Street to mark Diwali.
The Prime Minister, his wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, 10, celebrated the Hindu Festival of Lights outside Number 10 by lighting several small candles.
While Mr Sunak wore a suit, his family dressed in vibrant colours for Diwali, with his wife wearing a royal blue sari and his children sporting a patterned two-piece and a red dress respectively.
Diwali is a national holiday across India, which is celebrated by socialising and exchanging gifts with family and friends by millions around the world.
Many light earthen oil lamps or candles, and fireworks are set off as part of the celebrations before having a special prayer in the evening dedicated to the Hindu goddess Lakshmi, who is believed to bring luck and prosperity.
The Prime Minister, his wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, 10, celebrated the Hindu Festival of Lights outside Number 10 by lighting several small candles
The Prime Minister and his wife Akshata as they brought several candles outside to mark Diwali
While Mr Sunak wore a suit, his family dressed in vibrant colours to mark Diwali, with his wife wearing a royal blue sari and his children sporting a patterned two-piece and a red dress respectively
Before lighting the candles, the Prime Minister and Akshata met India’s external affairs minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and his wife Kyoko.
Mr Sunak and Dr Jaishankar discussed UK-Indian relations during the meeting and the Indian politician gave Mr Sunak a cricket bat signed by Indian player Virat Kohli.
The couples said goodbye outside Downing Street by folding their hands together and bowing slightly as part of the Hindu greeting Namaste.
After starting the Diwali celebrations at Downing Street, the family travelled to Mr Sunak’s birth place Southampton, where they prayed at the Usha at the Vedic Society Hindu Temple.
They were joined by Mr Sunak’s parents Yashvir and Usha as well as by hundreds of worshippers who filed into the temple.
Mr Sunak and his family lit Diya candles for Diwali outside No 10 Downing Street
Before lighting the candles, the Prime Minister and Akshata met India’s external affairs minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (left) and his wife Kyoko (left in yellow)
Mr Sunak and Dr Jaishankar discussed UK-Indian relations during the meeting and the Indian politician gave Mr Sunak a cricket bat signed by Indian player Virat Kohli
After starting the Diwali celebrations at Downing Street, the family travelled to Mr Sunak’s birth place Southampton, where they prayed at the Usha at the Vedic Society Hindu Temple
Rishi Sunak and his family receive gifts during a visit to the Vedic Society Hindu Temple
They were joined by hundreds of worshippers filling the temple
The PM and his family participated in a special prayer at the Vedic Society Hindu Temple tonight
Mr Sunak during a speech at the Vedic Society Hindu Temple tonight to celebrate Diwali
The family joined their hands together as part of the Hindu celebration in Southampton
The PM was joined by his parents Yashvir (left) and Usha to mark Diwali
Meanwhile Diwali celebrations in India have broken a Guinness World Record by lighting 2.22 million bright earthen oil lamps.
Across the country, dazzling multi-coloured lights decked homes and streets as devotees celebrated the annual Hindu festival of light, symbolising the victory of light over darkness.
The spectacular and much-awaited massive lighting of the oil lamps took place at Saryu river in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh state, the birthplace of their most revered deity, the god Ram.
At dusk on Saturday, devotees lit more than 2.22 million lamps and kept them burning for 45 minutes as Hindu religious hymns filled the air along the banks of the river, setting a new world record.
Last year, more than 1.5 million earthen lamps were lit.
More than 24,000 volunteers, mostly students, helped prepare for the new record, said Pratibha Goyal, vice-chancellor of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Avadh University in Ayodhya.
Meanwhile Diwali celebrations in India have broken a Guinness World Record by lighting 2.22 million bright earthen oil lamps
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