Dear Editor,
I do not know if Guyana’s Parliament celebrates Diwali. But legislatures and executives of several countries where Diwali is not a national holiday, host Diwali celebrations to show appreciation for the festival and to join their Hindu colleagues in solidarity and to promote national cohesion. If the Guyana Parliament and members of that body as well as national political figures do not currently celebrate or host Diwali events, they should take a page from the books of politicians from around the globe and start doing so (in addition to celebrating Eid, Easter, etc) to help with national unity and building a harmonious, cohesive society.
The British Parliament, Canadian House of Commons as well as provincial legislatures and city councils, the US Congress, the White House (President Obama) and the Vice President, governors and state legislatures, NY Metropolitan Museum of Arts, etc, host Diwali celebrations (in addition to Eid celebrations).
I attended several Diwali celebrations in Trinidad hosted by politicians of different parties and ethnic groups. Trinidad’s Parliament hosted a Diwali celebration as they also did for Eid and Easter; Members of Parliament of all ethnicities (and faiths) dressed up in traditional Indian garb and attended parliament. The Speaker hosts a Diwali celebration. Each ministry of government in Trinidad hosts a Diwali celebration with staff of diverse ethnicities all dressed up in traditional Indian attire. Former president Max Richards, a non-Hindu, lit diyas in his presidential home and hosted dinner for special invitees that included diplomats and other dignitaries. The Opposition Leader celebrated Diwali at her constituency office with the Indian Ambassador as chief guest. The political parties (PNM, UNC, COP) also hosted Diwali celebrations. Each MP (Indian and non-Indian) hosted Diwali celebrations in their constituency.
These have been annual events going back many years. It is a tradition for the President, MPs and ministers to attend the nine nights of Diwali celebrations at the spectacular Nagar in central Trinidad that attracts over ten thousands nightly and 20K on the final night before Diwali.
The Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley closes the celebration this year organized by the National Council of Indian Culture with a fireworks spectacle.
In the United States President Bush started the Diwali celebration at the White House in 2001 and it has been observed annually since then.
The US Congress celebrated Diwali on November 4 with over 1,000 Indian American invitees and others including Guyanese and other Caribbean people attending. Diwali is celebrated by more than two million people in the US including over 250 thousand Guyanese Hindus. Some 30 members of Congress took part in the celebrations last Wednes-day evening. The event was used to celebrate the accomplishments of the Indian American diaspora.
The annual Diwali celebration, which attracts leaders from Indian American organizations from all over the US, was organized this year by Congressmen Ami Bera and George Holding, Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Previous celebrations had Indo-Caribbean pandits presiding over the ceremony. Prof Anant Rambachan of Trinidad led celebrants at a Diwali lighting at the White House on several occasions.
Bera, the lone Indian American congressman, and one of only two Hindus in the US Congress, in a release about the event said: “This event celebrates who we are and all our community has accomplished,” He added: “Over the next decade, I look forward to making D.C. the hub for connecting members of the community not just from the surrounding region, but across the country to celebrate our progress and talk about the future.
“The Indian American community has been playing a key role in building needed ties between our two countries, and I congratulate the volunteers who worked to make this year’s Diwali celebration in Washington a success.”
The Guyana President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and the political parties should initiate and host their own Diwali celebrations (indeed all major cultural celebrations) that will help bring about national cohesion.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
