The Football Association (FA) partnered with BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as Neasden Temple – to celebrate Diwali at Wembley Stadium, the home of English football, on Thursday 14 November 2024.
This was the first-ever Diwali celebration to be held at the Stadium, marking a historic milestone for the Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities, and a leading example of The FA’s commitment to working closely with faith communities across the country to promote participation and engagement in football for all. The FA celebrates key events across the country’s major faiths as part of its award-winning ‘Faith and Football Series’.
The evening included inspiring football talks and interactive panels comprising of professional players and coaches from the sport, including John Barnes MBE, considered to be one of the best England footballers of all time. The presentations served to encourage greater community involvement in the sport and physical well-being.
FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE had sent a personal video message from Athens, whilst on duty with the England men’s senior team who were playing Greece. She shared, “A big thank you from me, on behalf of us all at The FA, goes to Neasden Temple – our neighbours in Wembley – who are key partners in tonight’s Diwali celebration. I remember with fondness my own visit to your iconic temple. I will never forget just how welcome you made me feel and that strong sense of togetherness and hope that I felt after my visit. I hope you all feel that same sense of togetherness after celebrating Diwali with us all tonight at Wembley Stadium.”
Pooja Patel, a youth volunteer at the Mandir, spoke of her experiences from participating for a local football club. She explained how Mahant Swami Maharaj advocates physical health as essential for spiritual well-being, and how Swamishri himself played football in his youth days as a left-back.
Youths from the Mandir also enriched the celebrations through vibrant cultural performances, including a medley of uplifting bhajans, Vedic prayers for peace, and a colourful pitch-side dance followed by the Swaminarayan arti that reverberated around the stadium.
Sharing his impressions of the programme, John Barnes said, “I used to play in this area – at Vale Farm, Harlesden, Willesden, Neasden – so I know this area very well. Of course, being at Wembley – the home of football – it is great that Neasden Temple is supporting this event. Happy Diwali to everyone!”
Anita Asante, a former England footballer with 71 international caps, and current first-team coach at Bristol City, remarked, “Football is a game that is supposed to be diverse and inclusive, and so it is fantastic to see the partnership between Neasden Temple and The FA. I think the engagement has actually helped increase girls’ participation across different communities, especially the Asian communities.”
Dal Darroch, Head of Diversity & Inclusion at The FA, added, “Today, we have brought together people of Hindu heritage and Sikh heritage – and it has been brilliant! It has been great to see two iconic organisations – both with buildings that are iconic landmarks of the Wembley area and the Brent region – to come together for the first time and to do it here at the home of English football.”
Deepan Lakhani, a leading BAPS volunteer at the Mandir, explained, “We are grateful to the Football Association for hosting this Diwali celebration here at Wembley Stadium. It was an honour to partner with them and celebrate the spirit of Diwali along with members of the wider British Hindu community. His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS, emphasises the importance of ‘widening the circle of harmony’ and working together with everyone. This event represented that through football – such an important national sport that can bring diverse communities together while keeping us all fit and teaching us valuable life lessons.”