By Vishnu Bisram
Diwali is a holiday in Guyana. Here in New York, Guyanese are reminiscing about the fun time of celebrating Diwali in their homeland: travelling from village to village, taking in the spectacular displays of the lighted diyas, and enjoying delicacies at people’s homes. Although it is a Hindu holiday, Diwali in Guyana is celebrated by non-Hindus.
People of all ethnic groups usually look forward to the festival, because it is a time for invitations to dinners and the distribution of mitai and Indian foods, as well as to take in the brilliant fireworks and light displays. The children of all ethnicities eagerly look forward for the holiday because they get a break from school and to take in the spectacular traditional earthen lights, enjoy the season’s delicacies, and be the judge of the best lit home.
Children enjoy concerts at schools and distribution of prasadam. As a child, I remember families in my village of Port Mourant making preparation for Diwali weeks before the festival, to welcome the Goddess Lakshmi. The Goddess likes clean homes. So houses were given a new look. The lawn was trimmed. New linens, blinds, mats, bed sheets decorate the homes and bedrooms. People purchased new clothes for pooja and fresh groceries for the occasion. Hindus fast days prior to the festival and abstain from rank (meat or fish or eggs) and sex and alcohol. They acquired new food items and religious paraphernalia (ghee, coconut oil, etc) including diyas in preparation for the festival.
An aura of celebration is usually in the air with well decorated yards and homes comparable to the Christmas season. Stores dress up appropriately for the occasion. In the days leading up to Diwali, temples were visited and Hindus propitiated to Goddess Lakshmi who represents wealth and prosperity. Some temples held special cultural concerts.
Schools also held concerts. On the eve of Diwali, Hindus lit one or five diyas with one placed in front of the main door of the house and the others distributed around the home. The youths would pick up diyas the following morning, and used these again on Diwali night to light up around the house yard for decorative purposes to be judged in the unofficial competition of the best lit home.
On Diwali day, sweets, mohanbhoog (prasadam) and bhojan (food) were prepared and Hindus exchanged gifts, cards, and greetings and distribute sweets and foods to their neighbours, friends and relatives. The temples were visited and at dawn, prayers and offerings were made to Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi. After havan services and aartee of murthis and the elderly, diyas were arranged in rows and lit up around the house. Every window ledge of the house and every step on the outdoor stairs were decorated with diyas; many homes even mounted multicoloured designs of diyas in front of their homes as they compete for the title of the most diya-lit home.
It is not unusual for some people, especially the nouveau riche, to decorate their homes with flickered multi-coloured lamp bulbs or use an assortment of candles as part of the friendly competition. During the lighting, people would drive around various neighbourhoods to take in the spectacular sight of diyas and colourful light displays. There were also motorcades of lighted diyas and electronic lights in various parts of the country. Even non-Hindus would partake in the motorcade to show their appreciation of the festival.
Everyone had a fun time with the entire country, regardless of ethnicity, coming together for the occasion. For the holiday, let us open our doors and hearts and show compassion and understanding towards others. Happy Diwali all!
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