The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s (GHDS) central Deepavali motorcade and grand cultural programme will be held on Monday, October 27, the eve of the festival.
According to a press release the floats will leave the Shri Krishna Mandir at 6.30 pm and travel through Kitty and Campbellville en route to the LBI Community Centre Ground.
The programme’s agenda includes the announcement and presentation of prizes which are expected to exceed one million dollars. President Bharrat Jagdeo is expected to give the feature address and to present winners with their prizes.
According to the GHDS the West Coast Demerara motorcade is set for October 19. Floats are expected to leave Ruimzeight and Parika and converge at the Ocean View Mandir Compound, Uitvlugt. The Essequibo motorcade is scheduled for October 25 moving off from Affiance and Sparta Mandir and meeting at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.
The release said too that four motorcades will be held on October 26. The West Berbice motorcade will leave Bush Lot at 6 pm and assemble at the Blairmont Community Centre Ground.
The Upper Corentyne motorcade will move off from Crabwood Creek and Adventure at 6 pm and converge at the Tagore High School ground at 7 pm; the Central Corentyne motorcade will leave Number One Village and Bush Lot, Corentyne and meet at the Albion Sports Ground and the East Berbice motorcade will move off from New Amsterdam and Palmyra and converge at the East Canje Ground.
GHDS President Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud said the motorcade has become a part of his life and he is touched by the participation and involvement of children. According to Persaud the floats display the creativity and skills of devotees, and the occupants representing the deities, bedecked in saris, shalwars, lehengas, dhotis and kurtas win the admiration of spectators.
Admission is free and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.