UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak was seen lighting Diya (earthen lamps) outside Number 11 in Downing Street, his official residence in London, ahead of the festival of Diwali.The 50-second clip showed Britain’s Indian-origin Finance Minister coming out of his residence and placing four lamps at the doorstep.
Downing Street houses the official residences and offices of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.Mr.Sunak’s gesture marks a first for Downing Street, which annually sees the UK Prime Minister host a Diwali gathering and an Annakut, or spread of festive food, from London’s Swaminarayan Mandir next door at No.10.
Diwali celebrations this year have moved online across the UK as England entered its second stay-at-home lockdown last week.Mr.Sunak had earlier urged the British Hindus to follow the lockdown rules and refrain from the usual tradition of getting together with friends and family.
“Just a couple more weeks and we are going to get through this and it’s going to be so much better on the other side.We will have lots of happy times afterward.But, to keep everyone safe right now, just follow the rules,” he said.
