Matthew was pleased to attend the Burnt Oak Nepalese Community’s Dashain celebrations. The annual event was also attended by the Deputy Lieutenant Martin Russell, Barnet Mayor Councillor Nagus Narenthira, Barnet Councillors and the Prime Minister’s Special Advisor Councillor Ameet Jogia. 

The festival is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal, traditionally celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess. It is a time for family reunions, exchange of gifts and blessings, and elaborate pujas while also honouring the Goddess Durga, who was created out of the shakti or energy of all the gods, armed with weapons from each of them.

BONC use the celebrations as an opportunity to recognise and celebrate educational achievements by its members, with several receiving academic qualifications from prestigious London universities. 

Matthew said: “The Dashain celebration has become an established event in the Barnet civic calendar. I particularly enjoy the acknowledgment of educational achievement during the evening. Many people achieve post-graduate qualifications that are used in public services such as the NHS. This truly selfless attitude is something that characterises the members of Burnt Oak Nepalese Community and the group is a great asset to our local community.”