Dear Editor,
Phagwah like other religious festivals has its origin in deep religious values. Hindus believe that all religious festivals should be respected and the citizens of Guyana must subscribe to this to enhance the true meaning of all religious festivals. While most religious festivals have a social side to them, that side must not be abused with negative expressions. The consumption of alcoholic beverages has its prevalence in the social side of festivals. This conduct must be fully rejected so that the deep values of these festivals can be sustained. What adds to the disrespect and total disregard of the festival of Phagwah is the blatant advertisement in the Kaieteur News of March 22 where a headline extending Shubh Holi greetings was coupled with a picture of an alcoholic beverage (Smirnoff Ice Vodka). Over the years all our businessmen have extended their greetings by highlighting religious pictures or quotes, or expressing nature’s beauty. King’s Liquor Guyana Inc is fully aware of the great significance of these festivals, but still blatantly disregards the religious community, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters to desecrate the festival through their ads.
I therefore call on all Hindu families and also the religious community to protect all our festivals (especially the religious ones) in the future, and I also ask the business community and citizens to desist from such desecration.
The Sabhaa is also humbly requesting that our newspapers disregard these advertisements in the future.
Yours faithfully,
Pandit Ravi
President
Viraat Sabhaa Guyana
