Raksha Bandhan at House of Lords honours UK armed forces diversity

A Raksha Bandhan celebration at the House of Lords brought together UK parliamentarians, defence personnel and faith leaders. Speakers linked the festival's message of protection with military service and greater diversity in the forces.

A special Raksha Bandhan celebration was held at the House of Lords in London, where British Indian peer Lord Krish Raval and the Defence Hindu Network brought together parliamentarians, armed forces representatives, community figures and religious leaders at the River Room overlooking the Thames.

The event linked the festival’s message of protection with the role of the UK’s armed forces, while speakers also underlined the importance of diversity, faith and representation in the services. It opened with Vedic chants and shlokas and ended with a Bharatnatyam performance.

Lord Raval said the “wonderfully ancient tradition” of Raksha Bandhan carried added significance in uncertain times. “Raksha Bandhan is a wonderfully ancient tradition and I’m so glad that it has been brought into the House of Lords in such a strong way,” he said. Referring to the armed forces, he added: “We live in uncertain times, our friends from the armed forces will know better than me. But our country is under threat perpetually. There are invisible enemies, and we count on you to defend us, to protect us. May that protection never falter, and that is what we are here to mark.”

The event in the Parliament complex on Monday was opened by Acharya Krishan Attri, Hindu Chaplain for the UK defence forces, with traditional Vedic chants and shlokas. Among those present were parliamentarians, representatives of the Armed Forces, and community and religious leaders. Tanmanjit Singh Dhesi, chair of the Defence Committee in the House of Commons, said: “Whether it’s in the RAF (Royal Air Force), whether it’s in the British Army, whether it’s in the Royal Navy, we need your good selves [Indian heritage recruits] to be held up as that standard, and that will then encourage others to join as well.” The British Sikh Labour MP said celebrations such as Raksha Bandhan are not only about faith and culture, but also “spur each other into further action”.

Air Commodore Dan James said the event offered “a great opportunity not only to celebrate a rich cultural heritage, but also to recognise the diverse people who make up our services now”. He added: “We in the UK Armed Forces draw our strength from the rich diversity of the society we serve. People from different backgrounds, faiths, cultures, and experiences come together in pursuit of a common purpose: the defence of our nation and the protection of our values.” Flight Lieutenant Nigam Joshi, chair of the Hindu Defence Network, said the group was “building relationships and bridges that let Hindu personnel serve with their faith understood, not merely tolerated, which is very important”.

Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, who had travelled from Rishikesh for the Ganga Aarti on the Thames over the weekend, were among those who addressed the gathering. Sister Jaymini of the Brahma Kumaris UK spoke about the significance of Rakhi before tying the sacred thread on defence personnel and other guests. The programme concluded with a Bharatnatyam performance by 16-year-old student Disha Varsani, rounding off an event that celebrated Raksha Bandhan while recognising the role and diversity of the UK’s armed forces.