NRI
UK Armed Forces Celebrate Raksha Bandhan
The UK Armed Forces Hindu Network, which organised this, conducted Raksha Bandhan tours in several temples around London.
Britain’s Hindu communities and Armed forces personnel came together and exchanged rakhis– the multi-coloured bands–on the event of Raksha Bandhan on August 7 at Ministry of Defence headquarters in London.
Members of Hindu Council UK, the Hindu Forum of Britain, along with Chief of Defence People (CDP)- Lieutenant General Richard Nugee and Director of Submarine Capability Rear Admiral Tim Hodgson were present on the occasion.
Raksha Bandhan Tours
The UK Armed Forces Hindu Network, which organised this, conducted Raksha Bandhan tours in several temples in Newcastle, Swindon, Liverpool and London over the past few weeks.
Said UK defence minister Earl Howe: “As we exchange our multi-coloured bands, it’s a unique opportunity to remind ourselves of the multifaceted ties that bind our great Hindu community and our Armed Forces together. To defend ourselves we must unite: speaking up for those beliefs of tolerance, fairness and dignity, that make us who we are. Hindus have time and again contributed to the defence of the UK. During the First World War, 1,750,000 Hindus deployed overseas. In the Second World War, over 1.25 million Hindus played a pivotal role in the allied victory.”
He added: “Knowing what our diverse communities bring, only makes us ambitious for more. Indeed, this Government is committed to recruiting 10 per cent of personnel from minority communities, by 2020.”