London: Carlton House Terrace in London was clogged on Saturday night with Rolls-Royces, Bentleys and top of the range Mercs which could only mean one thing - the Hindujas were holding their annual Diwali party.

Some 400 guests comprising the cream of London's India society attended and feasted on a choice of 30-40 vegetarian dishes.

But much more significant was the presence of the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, who strolled across from his official residence which is also in Carlton House Terrace just a few doors along from what is effectively the chandelier-lit Hinduja palace.

Prime Minister Theresa May was in Brussels in yet another attempt to break the deadlock over Brexit but she sent a personal Diwali message via Priti Patel, the international development secretary.

On Monday, Priti stood as hostess at the Diwali reception at 10, Downing Street, because May was in Brussels.

There were two other senior Tory politicians at the Hinduja party - chief whip Gavin Williamson and minister of state at the foreign office Tariq Ahmad.

What all this means is that as far as the UK government is concerned, the Hinduja family is now back in business. Whatever problems there were in the past have long since been forgotten.

The dynasty was represented by three of the Hinduja brothers - London-based Gopi, Geneva-based Prakash and Ashok from Mumbai - and their wives and children.

The mistress of ceremonies was Tory baroness Sandeep Verma, who observed: "Diwali has become absolutely a fabric of British society. Since 1980, the Hinduja family has made sure that we celebrate Diwali in the same pomp and style that is celebrated in India."

Indian high commissioner Yash Sinha was among the guests, as was his deputy Dinesh Patnaik, indicating that London and New Delhi both recognise that the Hindujas are now probably the most important Indian business family in the UK.

Thanking the Hindujas for their "outstanding hospitality", Patel introduced the "message from our Prime Minister - she is preoccupied: fighting for our national interest in Brussels in the negotiations on Brexit and she has kindly sent us a message".

It said: "The Hindu community makes a vital contribution to life here across the United Kingdom as well as across Europe. Diwali is a celebration of Hindu culture at its very best.... I wish you all a shubh Diwali."

The star of the show was Boris who began: "I wanted you to know that shortly before becoming foreign secretary I took the precaution of stationing my ancestors and my relatives around the world. I have relatives in Russia, Turkey, Germany, America but, in addition, I made sure to have an Indian mother-in-law.

"Her name is Dip, which means light. And indeed Deepawali means the festival of light. So we have an opportunity to celebrate my mother-in-law. Which is very important."

Boris's wife, Marina Wheeler, is the daughter of a Sikh mother, Dip Singh, and the late BBC correspondent in Delhi in the early 1960s, Sir Charles Wheeler.

Boris, a leading Brexiteer, also managed to get in a political point: "Also at this moment in our lives I think you will agree there is every slightly too much gloom emanating from some of our media about this country and about our prospects - I think it is all the more valuable that we celebrate this wonderful moment, this festival of light, by chasing away darkness and ushering in a new spirit and new mood - that is the spirit of Diwali. Thank you very much, the Hindujas."