Dear Editor,
There are reports that Hindus in Guyana have a choice between 10th and 11th November for Diwali. Hindus could probably choose both. Hinduism’s practices are wonderfully diverse, and the migration of Hindus from India has resulted in many challenges in terms of adaptability and survival.
There have been other dates for Hindu festivities which have been different over the years. As with so many other beliefs and practices, there are persons who will have Hindu scriptural references to back up the dates. Perhaps all are right. We know the fable of the two blind men standing at the front and the back of the elephant describing what they feel with their hands. There are devout Hindus who thrive on the alcohol industry and there are devout and not so devout Hindus who campaign against alcohol consumption. There are devout Hindus who have supported oppressive political regimes while devout and not so devout Hindus have campaigned against the oppression.
The Government of course has to make a choice for the holiday. It seems that the 10th has been selected. Many organisations will probably adjust their activities accordingly. It might be easy for them. There is news that the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) has the motorcade on the 10th November. It is reported that the Georgetown based motorcade is the “single largest event in the Guyanese calendar”. The logistics associated with this event must be enormous.
There must be participants, stakeholders, loyal patrons and sponsors of the GHDS motorcade who would not want to exclude the Georgetown/ECD based Hindus and others who will celebrate Diwali in their homes and communities on the 10th November. These participants, stakeholders, loyal patrons and sponsors and even the relevant Government agencies might want to work with the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha to put forward the motorcade date in the spirit of universality and to make it easy. This has the potential to not be about who is right and who is wrong, but rather transforming how consensus can be achieved when there are differing views, all of which are probably right.
Yours faithfully,
Vidyaratha Kissoon
