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The Diwali Sari Pageant is an Indian cultural event

Oct 05, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Permit me to respond to especially those who are critical of the Diwali Pageant. Let them show me which part of this Pageant is vulgar!

Our women folk are well dressed when displaying their Sari (traditional Indian Wear); no part of the body is being exposed.

While Diwali is a sacred festival of lights, the Diwali Sari Pageant is a cultural event (promoting Indian culture) and this is one of the main attractions for this season along with the Diwali Motorcade.

I am happy that promoters such as Pradeep Samtani and Sheik Yassin can take-up the task and responsibility to promote this (annual) event.

Among some of our Diwali Queens are: Shakira Baksh-1966, who went on to represent Guyana at the 1967 Miss World Beauty Contest and was placed second-runner-up.

She is married to film actor, Michael Caine. Pamela Lord -1968, she also went on to represent Guyana at the 1969 Miss World Beauty Contest and was placed third-runner-up.

The 1972 Diwali Queen, Sherry Yassin is married to a prominent Guyanese businessman, and is does the 1985 Diwali Queen, Coleen Deterring. A former Minister of Education is married to a Diwali Queen, and a Member of Parliament for the ruling Party is married to a Diwali Queen also.

Poet/Writer/Teacher, MAHADAI DASS is the 1973 Diwali Queen. T.V. personality Sharon Bhola is the 1992 Diwali Queen, while media personalities, Indira Badal and Sherry Ann Dyal are first and second runners-up in the 1996 Diwali Sari Pageant.

According to my research, the Miss Guyana Diwali Sari Pageant started at Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, in the 1950s and was organized by Dr. Balwant Singh, Mr. Prem Persaud, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, Mr. Tappie Singh, Mr. Sugrim Gobin, Mr. Arthur Boodram, Mr. Cecil Satnu and Mr. Lakhan. This pageant used to be a two-night affair, which also included singing and danc¬ing competitions.

The Guyana Sanataan Dharma Sabha organised and promoted this Sari Pageant for 30 years, from 1960 to 1990, before Pete’s Promotions, Club Illusions Promotions and other promoters took over.

From Grove, this Pageant moved to Queen’s College then to the East Indian Cricket Ground (Everest) then to the National Park.

It is important to note that the Mahatma Gandhi Organisation also organised and promoted this Diwali Sari Pageant during the 1960s and 70s.
Parmanand Sukhu

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