All Guyanese need to learn the lesson of coming together’

…says President Granger in Diwali light up at State House

It was a delightful evening at the State House on Saturday as guests, decked out in colourful traditional Indian attire, made their way into the Baridi Benab just as the sun dipped behind the garden greenery, to join in the Diwali Utsav (festival) as the nation celebrated the festival of lights.

The cordial host of the evening, President David Granger, took to the podium to welcome his guests, which comprised of various Hindu organisations and mandirs across the region from as far as Leguan in Essequibo, Saraswati Vidya Niketan School, members of the diplomatic community and Government officials, to the Diwali light up ceremony at the State House in Main Street, Georgetown.
“It is my simple duty to welcome you here to State House in what I believe is the start of the annual series of observances…I would just like to commit to the people of Guyana that this house is a house for all Guyanese!” said President Granger in his welcoming remarks.
The President dubbed the celebration of Diwali as a national holiday a “gift of independence” by reflecting on the colonial days when the metropole refused to recognise cultural events as national holidays; consequently, locals were unable to observe their traditional holidays as such.
“This is a gift of independence, and I believe that this observance would help to build respect and understanding among the people of Guyana… I think this kind of observance helps Guyanese to understand each other, it demystifies the religious precepts, and it helps Guyanese to come closer to each other,” he firmly stated.
President Granger underscored the meaning of Diwali — interpreted to mean the “festival of lights”, to symbolise the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, unity over divisiveness; while stressing that such observances on a national scale can act as a catalyst in achieving social unity and cohesion.
“It is a lesson that all Guyanese can learn: that it is not a Hindu thing, it is a national thing. Anything that brings Guyanese closer together is good, and I believe Diwali is good for all of us. Every region of Guyana should hold Diwali observances, because it is a national observance; it is no longer a geographical observance. All Guyanese need to learn the lesson of coming together and overcoming poverty, overcoming illiteracy and ignorance, overcoming divisiveness…” were the influential words of the Head of State as he opened the floor for the commencement of the evening’s activities.
A series of Bhajans (devotional songs) was performed by Success Hindu Temple (Leguan); De Hoop Mandir, East Coast Demerara (ECD); and Huntley Shiva Mandir (ECD).
Meanwhile, the Nachghana Dance Academy of Diamond (EBD) surely did not disappoint the applauding audience with their catchy dance moves and choreography.
Students of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan learning institution performed the chanting of Shri Sukta (a devotional chant) while His Excellency lit State House’s first diya.
The guests lent a helping hand in lighting and placing hundreds of glowing diyas around the President’s residence, before engaging in a scrumptious meal of seven curries in the welcoming atmosphere of the fluttering lights.