The Royal Gurkha Rifles shall be departing to Afghanistan in April where they will be deployed to combat the Taliban. In total there are over 3000 Gurkhas in the British Army but 600 of them will be deployed in harsh regions like the Helmand province. Their commander Lt Col Gerald Strickland MBE, who speaks fluent Napalese, held a puja, a prayer ceremony, for a pre-deployment blessing.

The Gurkha Pandits performed the Vedic fire ceremony under the auspices of the Commander and Major Khusiman Gurung MVO, together with the soldiers and their families.

Historically the Gurkhas are going to an ancient part of Bharat, the India stretching across the Indus, and the Queen Gandhari in the epic Mahabharata was form there. Our prayers are with them all.

 

 

Anil Bhanot

Hindu Advisor - MOD

Managing Trustee - HCUK