Julian Knight MP welcomed members of the Shree Prajapati Association Birmingham to his constituency office last Friday to take part in the Hindu festival of ‘Raksha Bandhan’.
Three representatives of the Association joined Julian to tie a ‘Rakhi’ – a ceremonial bracelet of colourful threads – around his wrist. This gesture of protection, traditionally performed between brothers and sisters, was accompanied by prayers in support of Julian’s work on behalf of the people of Solihull.
The Association represents around 250 families, living in and around Birmingham and Solihull, whose origins lie in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is a registered charity with the twin aims of advancing the community’s culture and alleviating sickness and poverty.
Speaking after the ceremony, Julian said:
“I was delighted to meet with the Shree Prajapati Association, and honoured to be invited to take part in the Raksha Bandham ceremony.
“Since first being elected to represent Solihull I have seen first-hand how much religious organisations and communities do to give back to our community, and it was very interesting to learn more about our local Hindu tradition.”