By Vishnu Bisram
The large Guyanese community in Queens and other cities are gearing up for the Diwali festival.
Thousands thronged Liberty avenue from all over the tri state area and even from as far away as Washington, Maryland and Virginia over the weekend for last minute shopping for materials required to welcome Mother Lakshmi, the Goddess of Light, in their homes.
On Liberty Avenue in Little Guyana there was hardly any space for movement among the teeming crowds.
The place was literally jam- packed with patrons. Children accompany their parents. Some of the kids brought along their non-Hindu friends who also look forward for the lighting of the deyas and the fireworks.
On the sidewalks, vendors had all kinds of Diwali paraphernalia. Huge multi-colored and multi-shaped deyas and other paraphernalia that are on sale on the sidewalks in front of stores on Liberty Avenue. Stores were decorated prettily with party favours and various Hindu emblems. Even the Korean stores were dressed up for the occasion. Appropriate bhajans blared over loud speakers from stores including the Koreans. Sweet smelling incense wafts in the air.
Diwali is rapidly becoming a mainstream celebration in parts of New York in areas where large numbers of Guyanese are settled. Mainstream American stores are also offering Diwali related items and several card stores sell Diwali cards, including a few from the famous Hallmark company.
The festival is a very important event in the lives of Guyanese Hindus in the New York metro region and they eagerly anticipate the festival. Many plan to use it to give thanks and pray for peace and prosperity for themselves, family, friends, relatives and the Guyanese nation. Although they say they enjoy the festival in NY, many indicated they miss the festivities back in Guyana.
The festival was celebrated with gusto last Saturday with a motorcade. Several temples held cultural variety concerts over the weekend and more are planned for weekend in Richmond Hill. Also, several American politicians, including President George Bush, have issued Diwali greetings and messages to the large Hindu community. Congress passed a resolution declaring Tuesday as Diwali and urged the President to host celebrations at the White House.
In neighbourhoods where Guyanese predominate, the exterior of houses are decorated with lights. The sidewalks are swept clean as in Guyana. Fallen dried leaves, the sign of fall, are picked up and lawns trimmed. Special electric lights often used during the Christmas season are already flickering attracting curious onlookers and prompting questions.
Guyanese Hindus are attaching special importance to the Diwali festival comparable to Thanksgiving which is celebrated by all Americans a month after Diwali or the Christmas or Jewish Hanukkah season which are two months away. But Guyanese Hindus say they do not feel out of place about lighting flickering (associated Christmas) lights. Many say that the use of electric lights add to the beauty of the Diwali festival.
Some Guyanese say they plan to host dinners and invite their American neighbours. Distributing mithai (sweets) as they do in Guyana to others remains a tradition.
Although the festival does not have official recognition of the status of a public holiday as in Guyana, it is recognized by the Department of Education and students are excused from school. There is also the suspension of parking rules that is accorded to the festival.
The media is also promoting the festival. Many of the ethnic radio and television programs aired Diwali songs last weekend and all this week. WICR station plans 24 hours of Diwali music for Tuesday. And all of the ethnic weekly newspapers carried greetings from many businesses.
