Samantha Cameron glitters in a spectacular autumnal sari as she celebrates Diwali on visit to Hindu temple



Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India

Diwali is a five day festival of light celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains

Prime Minister tweeted pictures of the couple to his 500,000 followers



Samantha's husband stuck to a safe, navy suit and sensible tie



Stylish Samantha Cameron is known for her knack of dressing impeccably, whatever the occasion, and today the Prime Minister's wife chose a dramatic autumnal sari to take in London's colourful Diwali celebrations.

Samantha, 42, chose a russet-coloured sari edged in gold for a visit to the Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, at Neasden in north-west London.

She even combined the outfit proudly with a poppy.



Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is a five day celebration undertaken by millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world.



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Stylish Samantha Cameron is known for her knack of always dressing impeccably for the occasion and today the Prime Minister's wife chose a dramatic autumnal sari to take in London's colourful Diwali celebrations



For Hindus, the five-year festival of Diwali is one of the most important events in the year. Fireworks and lamps are used to create a riot of colour to celebrate the victory of good over evil, sweets are traded and new clothes bought. Lamps are lit and kept on during the night and families come together to carry out traditional tasks such as cleaning the house to honour the goddess Lakshmi.



While Samantha Cameron looked the part in her dramatic sari, David Cameron chose not to dress quite so spectacularly as his wife though, wearing his trusty navy suit and sensible blue tie.

Mr Cameron was garlanded when he arrived at the Neasden Temple, as it is popularly known, and both he and Samantha were welcomed with a chandlo on their foreheads – the red mark adopted by Hindu worshippers and afforded to guests.



As a customary mark of respect, they removed their shoes before entering (David’s were black slip-ons; Samantha’s nude pumps).

Diwali, known as the festival of lights, is a five day celebration undertaken by millions of Hindus, Jains and Sikhs around the world

For Hindus, the five-year festival of Diwali is one of the most important events in the year Samantha took part in a ceremony at the Hindu temple Samantha, who went barefoot in the temple, was draped in a floral garland as she was welcomed

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, second right, Vinu Bhattessa, a trustee of the temple, right, Samantha Cameron, second left, and Rena Amin, a leading women's volunteer, walk past the Hindu temple

The Neasden temple which opened in 1995, is the largest of its kind outside of India

Each was also given a ‘nada chhadi’ cotton-thread wristband, symbolising a bond of friendship.

Yesterday Mrs Cameron displayed hers on her right wrist as she effortlessly blended in with a line-up of sari-clad volunteers.



Meanwhile Mr Cameron, also sporting a poppy and wearing his wristband beneath his sleeve, praised Hindu family and community values.



He urged the UK’s million Hindus to be ‘ever more involved’ in shaping British life. He also announced he would return to India soon.

The Neasden Temple, which opened in 1995, is the largest of its kind outside of India.

Made of almost 2,820 tons of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tons of Italian carrara marble the temple was carved in India and then shipped to London for building. Since opening the temple has attracted almost three million visitors.

42-year-old Samantha chose a russet-coloured sari edged in gold for a visit to the Swaminarayan Mandir, the largest traditional Hindu temple outside India, at Neasden in north-west London

Samantha Cameron's husband David Cameron chose not to dress quite so spectacularly wearing a safe navy suit Samantha Cameron wife of Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, greets a group of young women during the visit

David Cameron tweeted images of Sam being greeted with a Chandlo and then the couple inside the temple David Cameron in front of some of the thousands of sweets that are shared during the festival Prime Ministers and their spouses have often paid visits to Hindu temples and other religious buildings during the festival of Diwali. Tony Blair and his wife Cherie used to attend Diwali celebrations at the House of Commons and six years ago Cherie Blair made a speech at the United Nations in New York during Diwali highlighting the plight of widows. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair pictured during Diwali celebrations in the House of Commons in 2003 Like Samantha Cameron, Cherie Blair adopted traditional costume during Diwali celebrations Gordon Brown, the son of a Church of Scotland minister, also used to attend Diwali celebrations when Prime Minister and would receive the traditional sash made from flowers. American President Barack Obama also attends Diwali celebrations, most notably when he and his wife Michelle made a four-day visit to India in 2010 amid tight security.

Gordon Brown (left) received a sash made from flowers when he hosted a reception at 10 Downing Street in London to celebrate the Diwali festival in 2009 US President Barack Obama dancing with school students during Diwali celebrations in Mumbai, India in 2010 Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall visited the temple in 2009 to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi Camilla was pictured being welcomed by the women of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Margaret Thatcher receiving the bindi at a Diwali banquet at London's Dorchester Hotel in 1998

FROM DREAM TO REALITY: HOW THE SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR TEMPLE WAS BUILT BY 1,500 SKILLED CRAFTSMEN WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK

On his visit to England in 1970, Yogiji Maharaj consecrated a small Swaminarayan Mandir in Islington, London. During his stay in London, on 26 May 1970, Yogiji Maharaj expressed his dream that a traditional mandir be constructed in the future. To realise the dream of his guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired the mandir and consecrated it in 1995.



From the moment the first stone was cut on 16 February 1993 to the moment the final piece was packed in June 1995, over 1,500 skilled village craftsmen, artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat – skilled in traditional stone and masonry – worked round the clock chipping away to fashion the rough stone and fine marble into the required forms. The finished products of rich carvings were a testimony to their exquisite skills of craftsmanship.

The Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest of its kind outside of India Stone experts recommended limestone from Bulgaria for the mandir exterior and marble from Italy and Ambaji (India) for the mandir interior. The stone and marble chosen met necessary aesthetic criteria, durable enough to withstand British weather conditions yet soft and suitable enough for the delicate work of carving. The Bulgarian limestone resisted remarkably well the effects of the extreme weather conditions with temperature variations from 30ºC in the summer and dropping to minus 15ºC in the winter. The limestone is very dense, with fine grains and creamy-white in colour. Italian marble is favored for its consistent white coloration, smooth texture and strength. Marble from Ambaji is noted for its snow-white appearance and good finishing.



Limestone and marble were transported in consignments by sea to the port of Kandla in Kutch, on the west coast of Gujarat. After the limestone and marble blocks were unloaded, they would be transported by truck to the main workshop in Kandla, some 8km away. It was decided that much of the carving be carried out at Kandla itself for reasons of convenience. A 15 sq km plot was acquired and cleared up and a mini-township built for the craftsmen who would sculpt the stone. Five worksheds were in operation at the Kandla site – one for cutting stones, one for marble work, one for limestone work, one for polishing and one for packing carved materials. It formed what was one of the biggest stone sculpting sites in the world. Over 1,500 skilled village craftsmen from Rajasthan and Gujarat, skilled in stone and masonry work based on centuries of tradition, were involved in the mandir work at 14 different sites in India. - www.mandir.org







