Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Diwali is celebrated during the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kartika—between around mid-September and mid-November. The celebrations generally last five or six days.
Hinduism is the third largest religious group in the United Kingdom, after Christianity and Islam; the religion is followed by around 1.7% of the total population of the nation. Hindus had a presence in the United Kingdom since the early 19th century, as at the time India was part of the British Empire. Many Indians in the British Indian Army settled in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. According to 2021 United Kingdom census, 1,032,775 residents (1.7%) identified themselves as Hindus.
Narendra Babubhai Patel, Baron Patel, is a Tanzanian-British obstetrician and cross bench peer, and a former Chancellor of the University of Dundee.
British Sikhs number over 520,000 people and account for 0.85% of the British population as of 2021, forming the United Kingdom's fourth-largest religious group. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census, British Sikhs numbered 524,529, with 520,092 in England, 4,048 in Wales, and 389 in Northern Ireland. The largest Sikh populations in the United Kingdom are in the West Midlands and Greater London.
Kamlesh Kumar Patel, Lord Patel of Bradford, is a member of the House of Lords. Having been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1999 Birthday Honours, he was created a life peer as Baron Patel of Bradford, of Bradford in the County of West Yorkshire on 8 June 2006.
Indarjit Singh, Baron Singh of Wimbledon, sometimes transliterated Inderjit Singh, is a British journalist and broadcaster, a prominent British Indian active in Sikh and interfaith activities, and a member of the House of Lords.
City Sikhs is a nonprofit organisation, and a registered charity which describes itself as "A voice for progressive Sikhs". It promotes networking, education and volunteering amongst Sikh professionals and provides a platform for engagement with the British Sikh community.
Raminder Singh Ranger, Baron Ranger, is a British businessman, and the founder of Sun Mark and Sea Air & Land Forwarding, an international marketing and distribution company. He is also chairman and managing director of Sea Air and Land Forwarding Ltd.
Asian Voice is a weekly newspaper targeted at the British Asian community. The paper originated as New Life in 1977, and was a pull-out section of its sister publication Gujarat Samachar before it was published as an independent publication.
Kamel Hothi, OBE is a British banker and financial adviser.
Jasvir Singh is a British family law barrister, media commentator and social activist. He is a co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month. Singh regularly appears in the British media to speak about the British Sikh experience and also interfaith related matters. He is described as being "one of the most prominent Sikh voices in British public life".
The 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as part of the Queen's Official Birthday celebrations during the month of June. The Queen's Birthday Honours for the United Kingdom were announced on 9 June; the honours for New Zealand were announced on 4 June and for Australia on 11 June.
The British Sikh Report, also known as the BSR, is an annual report launched in Parliament every year about Sikhs in the United Kingdom. The report looks at the views of Sikhs living in the UK and provides this information e.g. the government, non-governmental organisations, companies and other groups. It is one of the largest projects to regularly study the needs and wants of Sikhs anywhere in the world.
Param Singh MBE is a British business and technology consultant, and reality television personality and has worked for various companies including the Ford Motor Company, Rolls-Royce, Sainsbury's and Accenture. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2019 New Years Honours
Dhruv Prashant Patel OBE is an Anglo-Indian businessman, community organiser and politician, who serves as a City Common Councilman since 2013.
The Hon. Reena Ranger OBE, is a British community leader and businesswoman, who serves as a Councillor for Three Rivers District Council.
Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City or HTCC Kansas City, is located on 6330 Lackman Road, Shawnee, KS, 66217 and serves the Hindu & Jain population of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Jasvinder "Jaz" Rai OBE is a British Aerospace engineer, community leader and chairperson of the Sikh Recovery Network which supports people with alcohol and drug addictions. He regularly talks about addiction and other issues of importance to the Sikh community in the media and in 2020, was recognised by 10 Downing Street for his work supporting people with drug and alcohol addiction. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours.
Shaista Gohir, Baroness Gohir is a British women's rights campaigner. She leads the national charity, Muslim Women's Network UK (MWNUK). Her nomination by the House of Lords Appointments Commission as a Crossbench life peer was announced on 17 May 2022.
Jagbir Jhutti Johal OBE is a British professor of religion, author and media commentator.
