Dear Editor,
It is with great horror that we the undersigned Hindu women have viewed the news of the resuscitation of the Diwali Pageant. For years, we have protested against the hosting of an event that desecrated Sanatana Dharma and was sacrilegious to a sacred Hindu occasion. Promoters eventually realised that what they were doing was offending the sentiments of Hindus.
That some people have decided to form a National Diwali Committee and have made the hosting of a Diwali Pageant their main agenda on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali is very disturbing.
The mere fact that all that they can see relevant in the observation of a sacred Hindu occasion is a Sari Pageant makes one wonder as to the qualification/knowledge of these individuals with regards to Sanatana Dharma and what is their true motive.
Geeta Singh stated that the pageant is about learning to wear a Sari and applying make up—how does this apply to Deepavali? Is this how Geeta Singh practises Sanatana Dharma—wear a Sari and apply proper make up??
How can any Hindu with a modicum of any knowledge of Sanatana Dharma associate an occasion that honours and revere The Divine Mother with a Beauty Pageant?
Parmanand Sukhu stated that the Diwali Pageant promotes Indian Culture—what does this have to do with Hinduism? Indian culture is not Hindu culture alone because there are also Muslim, Christian, Parsi cultures that exist within Indian Culture.
Why not have a Sari Pageant then at some other time of the year. Why associate a Sari/Beauty Pageant with The Sacred Festival of Deepavali?
Deepavali is a sacred occasion where we worship Maha Lakshmi—the Goddess of Light/ Know-ledge/Wealth/Prosperity. Maha Lakshmi is not a Goddess of beauty for there to be a beauty pageant in Her Honour! In Sanatana Dharma, women are not revered for beauty—there are some very ferocious forms of The Divine Mother. So why has the National Diwali Committee, Parmanand Sukhu, Geeta Singh, et al, associating a Sari/Beauty Pageant with the occasion that honours Maha Lakshmi?
For the information of those who seem to be in need of knowledge of what Deepavali is—there are 5 days of observances for Deepavali.
1.Dhan Teras—worship of Maha Lakshmi as Dhanwantari where She is worshipped as the Goddess of Wealth alone—here one diya is lit on this evening —-Sunday 26th October
2. Narak Chaturdasi—the destruction of the demon Narkasura by Bhagwaan Sri Krsna—this is called Choti Deepavali as 5 diyas are lit on this night—Monday 27th October.
3. Deepavali—Maha Lakshmi Puja. We do puja to Maha Lakshmi in all her aspects—Wealth/ Knowledge/Light/Prosperity—then light as many diyas as possible asking Her —
Tamaso Ma Jyotri Gamaya—lead us O Mother, from darkness to light. Tuesday 28th October.
4.Goberdhan Puja—the day when Bhagwaan Sri Krsna lifted the Goberdhan mountain to save the people of Braja.
5.Bhai duja—-the day when Hindu brothers and sisters renew their sacred relationship—this is a strictly Brothers and Sisters day that was first observed by Yama Deva when He visited His Sister Yamuna Devi.
That Banks DIH and Polar Beer are sponsoring this event is proof that the National Diwali Committee does not care at all about Sanatana Dharma. The IAC— a cultural organisation does not allow alcoholic beverages at their Melas—how then can any beer be allowed at a programme organised by The National Diwali Committee?
In closing, we would like to draw the attention of the Companies supporting this event—Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Banks DIH, Polar Commodities, King’s Jewellery, Steve’s Jewellery, Gizmos and Gadgets —what you are doing is supporting a programme that desecrates a sacred Hindu occasion.
Yours faithfully,
Nanda Sahadeo
Prettima Sitaram
Hema Budhu
Amrita Singh
Sedhee Ramnath
Seeta Samaroo
