In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Conservative MP Shivani Raja said the decision was "not in keeping with the customs of many Hindus" and displayed a "disappointing lack of knowledge of the customs and traditions that many British citizens hold dear."
A Downing Street spokesman said: "We understand the strength of feeling on this issue and so would apologise to the community and assure them it will not happen again."
The five-day festival, celebrated by Sikhs and Jains as well as Hindus, symbolises new beginnings, the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.
The prime minister was pleased to welcome a range of communities celebrating Diwali to a reception in Downing Street. He paid tribute to the huge contribution the British Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities make to our country.
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