Guyana-a cultural melting pot

Nov 19, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Guyana can be described as a cultural melting pot. This is manifested in so many of our national festivals where Guyanese from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds turn out by the thousands to celebrate. The most recent manifestation of this phenomenon was the Diwali celebrations, known to many as the ‘Festival of Lights.’
It was indeed a true display of creativity and ingenuity as I observed the Diwali motorcade on its way to the LBI community centre ground. Each year the parade seems to get bigger and better for which the organizers must be commended, in particular the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, under the dynamic leadership of Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud. There can be no doubt that under his leadership the organization he so ably led has grown in stature and appeal not only within the Hindu community but among the wider Guyanese society.
For me, every float is a unique piece of art and innovation. Those of us who live on the road corridor along the East Coast highway were fortunate to get a glimpse of the motorcade on its way to the LBI community centre ground where the floats were judged. It must have been a difficult job for the judges to come up with their decisions since for me all the floats were unique in their own ways. I wish more people could get a chance to see the floats, a truly wonderful spectacle.
As I mentioned before, festivals such as Diwali have now become national institutions which Guyanese from all races and all walks of life have come to look forward to. For as long as I could remember, I always make it something of a duty to take my family to witness the parade. The excitement and glow in the eyes of the kids and even adults as the parade makes it way is something that will always be remembered. My only disappointment is the length of time that the float reaches the East Coast of Demerara by which time kids in particular got a bit impatient and some, especially the younger ones, do fell asleep.
No less spectacular is the lighting of diyas by Hindus to celebrate the homecoming of Lord Rama after 14 years in exile in the forest and his victory over the evil Rawan.
The message of Diwali which signifies the triumph of good over evil is also one that resonated with peoples all across the world.  Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar could not have said it better when he remarked on the significance of the festival for Guyana, a county which emerged from over two decades of darkness and is today seeing the light of economic prosperity and democracy. He told the gathering at the LBI Community Centre ground that many of the wicked acts twenty years ago were planned in the dark and therefore all Guyanese must continuously work for the good of Guyana.
“ We must be careful and remember to always guard the light, so that we can continue the progress we have started some twenty years ago.”
President Ramotar also encouraged the audience to be cognizant of the fact that the same people who orchestrated Guyana’s past darkness are today rearing their heads and are trying to take the country down that path again.
We are living in a lighter and brighter Guyana. The almost endless stream of cars on the road along the motorcade route, the brightly lit and decorated homes and the huge turnout of Guyanese along the roadside to get a glimpse of the motorcade is indicative of a new and changing Guyana, one that is vastly different from the darkness of the not-so-distant past. This is why it is so important to heed the advice given by His Excellency President Donald Ramotar not to allow this torch of human progress and dignity to be extinguished.
This is indeed the season of lights. The Christmas lights are already beginning to shine and with it the mood of the Guyanese people. Christmas, like Diwali, has now become national institutions celebrated by people from all economic, social and cultural background. This is what makes this country of ours such a unique and special place in which to live. We are becoming increasingly cosmopolitan in character, something that sociologists refer to as a cultural melting pot. You do not have to be a Christian in order to celebrate and enjoy Christmas or to fly a kite at Easter time in the same way that you do not have to be a Hindu to celebrate Phagwah, or a Muslim to participate in Eid celebrations. Culture has a way of bringing peoples of diverse cultural backgrounds together and in our case this is very much in evidence. We are a much more tolerant society where we not only appreciate but we also celebrate the cultures and festivities of the varying cultural constituencies.
This is why we must be first and foremost Guyanese at heart and in spirit. There is something powerful and contagious about our culture which we must all cherish and be proud of.
Hydar Ally

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