Why is there controversy surrounding the date Diwali should be celebrated?

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

I fully support the views of Vidyaratha Kissoon that consensus can be achieved when there are different views (‘Diwali date difference has consensus opportunities’ – SN 17/10/2015).

However, I cannot help feeling that neither consensus nor unity might have been on the agenda given the haste, it appears, with which the Ministry of Public Security rushed to have the notice published over the weekend dated 14 October 2015 naming Tuesday 10 November 2015 as the National holiday in observance of the Hindu Festival, Diwali. (Should this function still reside with the Ministry of Public Security?).

Editor, While I do accept and agree that a shift in date from the one indicated in calendars would mean a shift in arrangements all around in order to accommodate plans for celebrations/observances to the new date, in my humble opinion I feel there was still time to hold proper discussions/discourses with all Hindu organisations and scholars in order to arrive at a consensus date.

For years the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) has been the authoritative voice on matters pertaining to the Hindu religion (CIOG for Islamic matters) and the dates they have given over the years for the observances of both Phagwah and Diwali have always held and accepted and have always been so indicated in calendars without any furore.

Now, very recently, voices have made claims (perhaps with good reason) of wrong dates, bringing a note of discord and contention to the national fore.

Further, it must be questioned why wasn’t this ‘error’ picked up by the Hindu organisations/scholars long before now?

It begs the question: is the GHDS being replaced as the official, authoritative voice on matters pertaining and relating to the Hindu religion?

This is certainly no way to build consensus and national unity. If we cannot find unity on the religious front, how can we hope to achieve this in the other spheres of National life?

Regards,

“JLu”

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