Ramjattan holding firm to Diwali date decision

…Dharmic Sabha insists on celebrating Diwali on Nov 11

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is holding firm to his decision that Diwali will be observed on November 10 despite the uproar from a majority of the Hindu community, who are claiming that the official date should be November 11.

In another section of the media, Ramjattan stated that he had received a letter of complaint from the Veerat Sabha as it relates to the November 10 date for the festival of Diwali. He had reportedly sent the letter to the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), Dr Vindhya Persaud who claimed that the date was November 11, the darkest night of the year.

It was also mentioned that Ramjattan contacted pandits and a leader from Trinidad and Tobago, who all support the November 10 date. The Public Security Minister also shared that in support of November 10, he has received some 89 signatures from pandits nationwide.

He clearly stated that under the law he is the one who holds the authority to make the announcement as to when holidays should be celebrated and had done nothing else than stated, another media entity noted.

However, thousands of Hindus living along Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have signed on to a petition, supporting the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha on celebrating Diwali “the festival of lights” on November 11.

The Executive Members of the Essequibo Praant of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha have also noted their dissatisfaction at the recent announcement made by the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to change the date from November 11 to November 10. This recent declaration has caused serious controversy among pandits and Hindus.

According to President of the Essequibo Praant, Pandit Kydar Persaud, he is encouraging Hindus throughout Guyana and the Essequibo Coast to light their diyas on November 11. The prominent pandit gave an explanation that Diwali occurs annually on Amawasya (new moon) of the Hindu month of Kartik. It is the 15th day in the dark half of Kartik and it is the darkest night of the year. According to the pandit, that would fall on November 11 in Guyana.

According to another praant member who is also the Vice President of the Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir Mandir, Reema Natram also noted her disappointed over the move. Natram urged Hindus to be united and not to be sidelined by the November 10 date, as according to beliefs and date, Diwali is November 11.

The Vice President said that over 200 members from her mandir have supported the Dharmic Sabha’s call for the date to change to November 11 as it is correct according to Guyana zone timing.

On Monday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha said that it believes that their religion is being trampled on, in a high handed, dictatorial manner by the Government of Guyana.