Guyanese must be applauded for their role in mainstreaming Diwali celebrations in N.Y.

Dear Editor,
Guyanese and other Hindus had the most joyous Diwali celebrations in the New York environs (Upstate, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania). Over the past week, celebrations were held at several locations in the area at mandirs and at parks as far away as Central and South Florida and in Schenectady where large numbers of Guyanese and Trinis are settled.
Elaborate preparations were made to celebrate the festival similar as in Guyana.  Several Queens neighbourhoods have all the wonderful ambiance and decorations of a holiday – fancy, colourful lights that one sees at Christmas.  Mandirs hosted extravagant celebrations indoors with lavish dinners. Foods were unlimited.
Celebrants everywhere had a most wonderful time feasting on goodies and enlightening their lives with the message behind the festival. Celebrants were well dressed in traditional Indian attire – Sherwani, Shalwar Kameez, saris, lahenga, and kurtas. It was a magnificent celebration amongst Guyanese and other nationalities.  I applaud the many community leaders and organisers who helped to make the public celebration a success and the mainstreaming of Diwali in communities like greater Richmond Hill, Jamaica, Hollis, Cypress Hills, Parkchester, etc. where Guyanese are settled in large numbers.
The celebration was brought to this country by Guyanese and others and now incorporated into the social, spiritual and moral milieu of vast parts of American society. For this achievement, I salute and applaud my fellow Guyanese.
Unlike in Guyana, Diwali is not a national holiday but the festival is recognised and parking rule is suspended for the day.  In addition, students are given an excused absence and city workers can take the day off without submitting a medical excuse.
Many, including this writer, hosted non-Hindus for dinner after the lighting of diyas serving a traditional meal (a variety of snacks – delicacies, curries and dhal puri).
Almost everyone, regardless of ethnicity in Guyanese neighbourhoods, is familiar with Diwali and Phagwah.  My non-Indian students (Hispanics, Blacks), for example, in Brooklyn took me by surprise when they asked me; “How was your Diwali” and “Where are our snacks”?
In N.Y, the interior and exterior of businesses, stores, homes and temples were magnificently festooned with holiday paraphernalia and beautifully lit with diyas and electronic lights on Tuesday night. Even trees were well decorated.  Liberty Avenue was a spectacle to behold for the nights leading up to the celebration with diyas in front of stores on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday.  The Avenue was teeming with shoppers over the last two weekends. And on Tuesday night, temples held special pujas and concerts to mark the occasion.
Diwali has slowly become a mainstream event in large swaths of the country being given recognition by politicians who are courting the Hindu/Indian community that has been providing hefty donations to political campaigns.
Politicians do not want to be on the wrong side of this growing community fearing a backlash.  As such, they join the Guyanese and other Hindu communities to celebrate the festival, particularly in Queens.
Around New York, politicians of all stripes and levels, issued Diwali messages to celebrants.  The Governors of several states also issued messages extolling the virtues of Diwali. Some politicians even hosted Diwali dinners and or attended celebrations. President Barack Obama also issued a Diwali message.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram