Dear Editor,
The present debate regarding the Diwali pageant shows that the Hindu community is becoming more conscious of how its festivals, ceremonies and practices are perceived and represented in the wider Guyanese society. This is a good thing. It suggests that members are not just willing to follow what has been done in the past, but are open to question and debate religious activity as it relates to Hindu life in Guyana. Personally, having grown up in Guyana under the PNC when Hindus, and for that matter anything Indian, was relegated to the sidelines in a Christian/ Creole dominated culture, I was very gratified to see the Diwali pageant on a national stage. It reminded me that my culture and religion were also a part of Guyanese life. I admire the tenacity of the present detractors, even those who had supported the Diwali pageant in the past. But I would like to extend this debate beyond the pageant and include other aspects of Hindu life that need special and immediate attention: illiteracy, high school drop-out rates, drug use, domestic abuse, alcoholism, health education, and Hindu teaching (including Hindi classes and courses on Hindu theology), community service, yoga, meditation and role models. These are all in dire need of attention and I urge the individuals who have come out in condemnation of the Diwali pageant, to continue to look at Hindu life and become involved in remedying the many ills that plague the society.
With regard to whether there should be a pageant or not, I am for it. Calling it a Sari Pageant, as has been suggested by others, will allay the concerns of the critics. Also, the promoters might want to consider how tasteful the event is and ensure that it does not offend Hindu sensibility. They might also consider donating some of the proceeds to a project in the Hindu community − mandir repair, funding a Hindi class, etc.
Yours faithfully,
Mohan Singh
