UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson released a video appreciating the message of Diwali and interlinked the optimism and positivity surrounding the festival with the hopes of overcoming the ongoing pandemic. Johnson acknowledged the spirit of Deepavali to signify the victory of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance, Times Now reports.

Johnson congratulated people for celebrating Diwali virtually as it brought lights into people’s houses and kept them safe from contracting Covid-19. “I know that celebrating at a distance isn't easy when you want to get together with all your family or visit your friends or share with them the Diwali fun, as well of course the odd samosa or gulab jamun,” the leader spoke in his address.

He further added, “So I want you to know that your sacrifices and your determination to do the right thing really are helping to save lives, and tough though I know many aspects of this year have been, I have been blown away by the inspirational way in which Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains have responded to this crisis with compassion, community spirit, and a can-do attitude.”

The 56-year-old heaped praise on the temples based in UK for their good deeds during the pandemic as he expressed gratitude towards groups doing a wide range of praiseworthy activities. Johnson mentioned, “From those in temples across the country who have been cooking up a storm to create meals for the vulnerable to the community groups who have organised food parcels and checked in on people to see how they are doing.”

Moreover, the Conservative Party politician also touched upon the religious aspect of Diwali as he appealed people to derive encouragement from the values and principles comprised in the Ramayana.

“While undoubtedly there are huge challenges ahead, I have every confidence in the resilience and resolve and good sense of people across the country and that together we will overcome this virus, just as Diwali teaches us that light triumphs over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance,” Boris said.

“Just as Lord Rama and his wife Sita found their way home after the defeat of the demon king Ravana, their way lit by many millions of lamps, so to we shall find our way through this, and we shall do so triumphantly,” the Prime Minister signed off.

Johnson has embraced Hindu rituals and maintained a positive stance towards India in recent times. Ahead of the general elections in UK last year, Boris Johnson had visited the Swaminarayan Mandir in London along with his partner Carrie Symonds. Back then, he had reiterated that there’s no place for anti-India sentiment in the country and pledged to support Narendra Modi towards the latter’s endeavour of building a ‘New India’.