MEMBERS of the Basingstoke Multicultural Forum (BMF) joined delegates for a special Diwali celebration in Downing Street.

The reception was hosted by secretary of state for international development Priti Patel and brought together people from all over the country including Arun Mummalaneni and Sreeni Vavilala, chair and trustee from the BMF, and Basingstoke MP Maria Miller.

To mark this celebration, the third floor of the Downing Street was lit up candles and one of the large halls on the floor was decorated with Hindu idols of Rama and Sita.

This reception was attended by prominent Hindu, Sikh and Jain leaders along with noted Indian business leaders and high commissioner of India.

Mrs Miller said: “I am pleased that Basingstoke was so well represented at this important event.

"We have an increasingly diverse population in the borough and the BMF does an outstanding job in building links.”