Hindus begin distributing 1,000 hampers in Berbice for Diwali

Oct 31, 2013 News

In the spirit of Diwali, the Hindu Society of Berbice (HSB) has begun to distribute some 1,000 hampers to the less fortunate children and adults across the East and West Berbice area. According to Hindu Priest of the Gay Park Shree Krishna Mandir, Pandit Rajin Balgobind, the initiative, referred to as the Diwali Sava, is currently in its ninth year.
Thousands of hampers have been distributed to the poor and needy as identified by the dozens of Mandirs from Moleson Creek on the Corentyne to Highbury on East Bank Berbice, to Black Bush Polder and West Berbice.
He reminded Guyanese that Diwali is a festival of sharing and togetherness and that darkness comes into everyone’s lives in different forms. One of those forms is human hunger. It is with this in mind that the HSB has taken the initiative to feed the poor during this special time for them.

The volunteers packing hampers for distribution

“Our attempt is to deliver to as many people as possible on this particular occasion, and whenever we can, based on our resources, to help the poor and impoverished.”
Regardless of race and religion, Pandit Balgobind said that the people will receive the hampers. He said that charity is an important commandment in Hinduism. He added, too, that the Society has received donations to support the project from overseas benefactors in USA, Canada, England, Trinidad, and right here in Guyana.
The adult bags contain one week of ration and groceries (as well as cleaning agents) while the children’s bag contained sweets, oats, milk, cookies and macaroni and cheese, “and they have things more suited to their liking, plus a toy.”
The religious leader extended Diwali greetings and urged all Hindus to use their mandirs to give back to their community. “I encourage them to host feeding programmes; at least give a meal to the children and senior citizens….to take the meals to their homes, because there are many people who are limited in their mobility.”
In addition to the hampers, he said that more than 900 loaves of bread will also be distributed. The HSB is registered with the Friendly Societies Act in Guyana.