Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK) celebrates Holi at the House of Commons

Ansar Ahmed Ullah
Contributing Editor,Shottobani

London: Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK) celebrates Holi Festival & Gour Purnima at the House of Commons on 21 March 2024. Sir Stephen Timms, MP and Mr Virendra Sharma hosted the event. Saida Muna Tasneem, the honourable High Commissioner of Bangladesh, attended the celebration as the guest of honour.

Proshanta Datta Purokayastha BEM, Chairman of Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK), presided, while Sujith Chowdhury, the General Secretary of BHA (UK), conducted the meeting.

Host Virendra Sharma MP welcomed the audience and stated that peace and harmony are the core message of the Hindu religion. Mr Sharma urged that there are three million Hindus in the UK who should be working together to promote Hindu culture and the universal message of peace and harmony. He addressed younger generations to face all the challenges with courage. He reminded them that Great Britain is the land of tolerance and equality, where everyone can practice their rights regardless of differences in religious and cultural identity.

Sir Stephen Timms MP stated that Holi is the festival of love and peace. He expressed his satisfaction with hosting the Holi celebration and happily announced that he would sponsor and host this auspicious event in the future.

Her Excellency Saida Muna Tasneem, High Commissioner of Bangladesh, stated that she was very impressed with the young people’s presentation on Bengali Hindu culture, its origins, and roots. Her Excellency praised BHA (UK) for highlighting Bengali Hindu culture and heritage at the House of Commons. HE referred to the creation of Secular Bangladesh by the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. HE High Commissioner stated that the four principles of the Bangladesh Constitution, nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism, are to ensure that Bangladesh is the land of Bengalis regardless of Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and other tribes.

Young speaker Senior Legal Counsel Rajen Paul briefly introduced BHA (UK)’s objectives and charitable activities even during Covid19. Moulika Shome, a UCL student, shared her experience as a British-born Hindu of Bangladesh origin. Sumed Brahmadebara, a student at Cambridge University, highlighted the importance of the Holi festival for the betterment of multicultural society in Great Britain. Talented Krishna Shil and Aryan presented informative video presentations on Bengali Hindu cultural heritage.

A unique attraction at the event was the performance of dance, drama, and music by British-born young members of BHA (UK). The Cultural Secretary Mahamaya Shil and Krishna Shil hosted the cultural event, which included dance, drama, and musical performances by children and youth members of BHA(UK).

Proshanta Purokayastha BEM, the President of Bangladesh Hindu Association UK, thanked honourable MPs for hosting the auspicious Holi and Gour Purnima Festival at the House of Commons. Mr Purokayastha expressed his commitment towards unity and serving humanity at its best. He thanked all members and guests for making such a historical event a great success. The General Secretary Sujith Chowdhury declared HE Excellency High Commissioner of Bangladesh as the Patron of the Bangladesh Hindu Association (UK).