Latest update January 18th, 2025 5:32 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

A most unprincipled appropriation of religion

Oct 19, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
The present fiasco involving the group of very powerful people in our society who call themselves the National Divali Committee 2008 and the position taken by what appears to be the majority of the Hindu organisations in Guyana illustrate the tension that exists in our country as to what values are to be promoted for national welfare.

What is evidently going on before our very eyes is a most unprincipled appropriation and a callous commercialisation of one of the great religious traditions of mankind.

We are aware that there is always a tension between the sacred and the secular in any society, but the demarcation between the two must be respected for the health of the society.

In this present case, the so-called National Divali Committee 2008 has crossed the line. Nothing is sacred anymore, and all and sundry are made to bow before the insatiable greed of a few — the same few that are clawing at the very vitals of the nation.

For them, the sentiments of Hindus are inconsequential, prepared as they are to trample on the very values that can help to preserve the land and ignore the painful and deafening cries of sacrilege coming from the many. The essential element of Divali in Guyana is the worship of Lakshmi, the giver of prosperity and liberation.

So it is rather condescending, if not downright disingenuous, for the organisers of the Miss Divali Pageant 2008 to claim that theirs is a secular venture and does not constitute a desecration of the sanctity of the festival. If what the organisers are contemplating has nothing to do with Divali, then why use the name Divali, and why plant the pageant in the middle of this sacred period?

Our country is bedevilled with all kinds of man-made problems: crime, education, health, economy. If we are to truly move forward and overcome these problems in any meaningful way, to ensure that our children and grandchildren can live in dignity and self-respect, then we need to be sure that we dedicate ourselves to protect and preserve the moral and spiritual values contained in our many religious traditions.

All of us, regardless of our cultural and religious affiliation, should feel outraged and diminished by this attempt of the National Divali Committee as it embarks at full speed in desecrating and commercializing this splendid and beautiful Hindu festival.

In this heedless action of theirs, they are taking us down a slippery slope, retreat from which may well prove impossible.
Mahendra Heerallal

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 13th, 2025

 

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Ramnath sets tone for WI ahead of opener

Ramnath sets tone for WI ahead of opener

Jan 18, 2025

ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup… (SportsMax) – West Indies Under-19 Women’s captain Samara Ramnath has made her intentions clear ahead of her team’s campaign at the ICC Under-19...
Read More
Seales dominates but Shakeel, Rizwan lead Pakistan’s recovery

Seales dominates but Shakeel, Rizwan lead...

Jan 18, 2025

Youngsters impress as final day draws near

Youngsters impress as final day draws near

Jan 18, 2025

BCB/Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi U15 Inter Club Competition continues today

BCB/Dr. Amarnauth Dukhi U15 Inter Club...

Jan 18, 2025

Windies captain Brathwaite stresses bravery, belief ahead of Pakistan Test Series

Windies captain Brathwaite stresses bravery,...

Jan 17, 2025

In-form Savory dazzles on second day with classy half-century

In-form Savory dazzles on second day with classy...

Jan 17, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]