Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s life and work were hailed as Sewa or service in its highest expression as articulated in the verses of the Bhagavad Gita, the central scripture for the Hindus. At the prayer meeting attended by over two hundred people, virtually, organised by the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB), its President, Mrs Trupti Patel. In her welcome address, she spoke that Her Majesty had great integrity by living a life that was dedicated to serving the nation and even beyond. Mrs Patel stated that Her Majesty showed a genuine concern for the people of this country and indeed the Commonwealth, based on an authentic way she lived continued throughout her reign.
Mrs Patel then welcomed and invited Ms Sirliol Davis, representing the office of Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby to deliver Archbishop’s message in which he said, ‘As we grieve together, we know that, in losing our beloved Queen, we have lost the person whose steadfast loyalty, service and humility has helped us make sense of who we are through decades of extraordinary change in our world, nation and society’.
HH Visakha Devi, Temple President of ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor (also Spiritual Commissioner HFB) recited opening mantra meaning “I offer my respectful obeisance unto my spiritual master, who with the torchlight of knowledge has opened my eyes, which were blinded by the darkness of ignorance.
Padmashree Hon Bob Blackman MP had sent a message which was read out by Mrs Trupti Patel “I wish to express my sincere condolences to the Royal Family on the loss of the Queen. I thank HM The Queen for her dedicated service to the nation & the Commonwealth. Om shanti. RIP. I wish King Charles III a long life. God save the King.”
Readings of verses from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 , which were chanted beautifully in Sanskrit by Mrs Hinal Bhimapuria (Trustee of Cambridge Sanatan Village) and each verse was then in turn translated and meaning given by Dr Ramesh Pattni OBE (Vice President, HFB), Mr Pravin Amin (Vice President, HFB), Mrs Tara Patel (Chair membership Committee, HFB), Dr Bhavna Pandya ( Chair of Medical committee), Mrs. Mayuri Patel (Trustee of Ipswich Hindu Samaj), Mr. Velji Vekaria (Chair of Diwali HFB ), Swami Bhaktpriya Didi (Head of Divya Jyoti Jagruti Sansathan) , Dr Malav Bhimpuria (Trustee of Cambridge Sanatan Village ).
Messages of condolences from prominent members of Hindu community were conveyed by Dr Mayank Shah Trustee, BAPS Temple, Neasden who delivered a message on behalf of Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj the Global Head of BAPS, Sister Jaimini Patel on behalf of Sister Jayanti , Head of Brahma Kumari UK, Dr Harsha Jani on behalf of Param Shakti Peeth UK and Swami Bhakti Priya Didi on behalf of Divya Jyoti Jagruti Sansthan , Mrs Patel on behalf of Shri Dhiraj Shah , HSS UK to the King Charles III. Mr Rajnish Kashyap GS of the HCUK paid his tribute .
Patron of HFB, Mr CB Patel paid befitting tribute for the Queen’s long reign.
Ms Nancy Warren on behalf of the Bahai Community offered prayers to the King Charles III. Dr Harriet Crabtree gave message on behalf of the Interfaith Network UK by praising ‘the queen, her late husband Duke of Edenborough and now the new King Charles III expressing how they engaged with the other faith communities. Life dealing with interfaith has never been straightforward in the modern world, but they have enormous commitments to work together.’
Mrs Patel read out HFB letter sent to the King on 9th September 22.
The Prayer assembly was concluded by Swami Suryaprabha Didi (Spiritual Commissioner HFB, Head of Braham Rishi Mission UK) reciting the shloka to wish peace to everything and everyone in the universe and finally recited the ‘Shanti path’ a prayer for peace.
For the full video showing all speeches and Shlokas, please follow: https://m.facebook.com/video.php/?video_id=3195478134037249
The Event Team
Mrs Trupti Patel, HH Visakha Devi, Dr Ramesh Pattni OBE, Mr Pravin Amin, Ms Tara Patel, Mr Abhi Yogi, Mrs Mayuri Patel, Dr Malav Bhimpuria , Mrs Hinal Bhimpuria
Click here to view HFB Membership List, Twitter: @hfbritain
