Diwali Messages

Nov 03, 2013 News

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FROM MADAME DEOLATCHMEE RAMOTAR, FIRST LADY OF GUYANA

It is with extreme happiness that I extend Diwali greetings to all Guyanese but more especially to the Hindu community for whom this festival is a joyous occasion. Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil; of life over death and light over darkness.
I trust that these universal messages would touch every heart in our nation and that the torch of enlightenment would brighten those dark crevices, such as ignorance and greed which may exist within our midst.
Diwali is not just about celebration. There is a personal element that requires all of us to bring light to those areas of our lives and of the lives of those in society which are in darkness; to eradicate greed and ignorance, to reject violence and hatred and to banish ill-thoughts and needs. It is a time for festivity but also a call for personal and community action to bring brightness into the lives of others.
May the modesty of the simple ‘diya’ that is lit at this time remind us all that no matter how limited our means are we can all contribute to making our country and our world a much brighter place by generously illuminating the lives of others through doing good and through being good.
May our own personal example come to signify the conquest of good over evil.
A happy Diwali to all!

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FROM THE PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM

The People’s National Congress Reform extends friendly greetings to all of the Guyanese people, but particularly to the members of our Hindu Community on Deepavali.
Our Party recognizes that Deepavali – the Festival of Lights – should enliven all; young and old, men and women, rich and poor; in towns and communities throughout Guyana. It should be a unifying and integrating force which encourages goodwill, joy and friendship that bring all the people of Guyana together.
In the religious context, the Goddess Maha Lakshmi – the Goddess of Light – is worshipped for wealth and spiritual enlightenment.
This year we are forced to revisit many of the themes from previous years  because the PPP/C Administration has accelerated its confrontational approach towards the National Assembly while continuing to violate the fundamental tenets of our parliamentary democracy, particularly their refusal to govern in accordance with the rule of law and to recognize the law-making and oversight role of the National Assembly vis-à-vis the executive branch, the people of Guyana are seeing the light disappearing while a gathering storm looms on the horizon. The symbolism of the triumph of light over darkness now carries a powerful message for the Guyanese nation.
In the circumstances, the PNCR invokes the blessings of Mother Lakshmi to end this darkness so that our dear land can once again experience peace, prosperity, good governance, equity, security, a culture of civility, and good order.
A HAPPY AND JOYOUS DEEPAVALI TO ALL GUYANESE!

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FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE

As we prepare to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, the Alliance For Change sends special Diwali greetings to our Hindu brothers and sisters and to all Guyanese.
The Festival of Diwali or the Festival of Lights, as it is also known, is of special religious significance to Hindus as it marks the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile. To welcome his return and to light his path, ‘diyas’ were lit.
This year, as we light diyas and admire the light that shine brightly from such little lamps, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance, let us all commit that our lives will be as lights shining forth to unmask evil, lawlessness and corruption.
Diwali is a celebration of life itself and that the lights and diyas represent hope for all humankind regardless of faith or ethnicity. Let us be the light we want to see in others and let our little light fill the world around us. Let us be the example that good will always triumph over evil.
Happy Diwali to all Guyanese.

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FROM THE GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION (GAWU)

Light Up Minds, Lighten Burdens.  Illumination. Light. Vision. Enlightenment. These words and concepts tend to convey the spirit of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights usually celebrated at this time of year. Now a nationally-embraced public holiday, Diwali captures the attention and even participation of thousands of Guyanese citizens including non-Hindus.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), home to a great number of Hindu union members, enjoins the Hindu community especially to find innovative, practical and productive ways to influence national leaders to indeed light up their own minds and other faculties in pursuit of the greater good for Guyana.
Again, GAWU will not dwell on the almost romantic elements of the Diwali legend but hopes that the Spirit of Mother Lakshmi will inspire more open-mindedness in the Guyanese society. Our brief message, therefore, is to celebrants and leaders alike: Just as Guyanese Hindus have fashioned unique Diwali motorcades, which attract national attention, let the Guyanese ‘melas’ and the ‘diyas’ of the mind illuminate wisdom in all communities, in places of work and worship, in Government and Parliament to lighten the poor man’s burdens, through righteous policies and programmes.
This is the least – but the most sought-after, that the union and hope for.
Happy Diwali 2013.

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FROM THE INTER RELIGIOUS ORGANISATION (IRO)

While Diwali is popularly known as the “festival of lights”, the most significant spiritual meaning behind it is “the awareness of the inner light”. Central to Hindu philosophy is the belief that there is something beyond the physical body and mind which is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman (soul).
The celebration of Diwali as the “victory of good over evil”, or light over darkness  refers to the light of higher knowledge dispelling all ignorance, the ignorance that masks one’s true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality. With this awakening come compassion and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge).
This brings the feelings of true joy or peace. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Diwali is the celebration of this Inner Light.
Diwali is a lighting festival during which God is worshipped in the form of Maha Lakshmi: Goddess of light. It is celebrated by Hindus on the darkest night of the month of Kartick (September/October) this auspicious occasion is marked with prayers and the lighting of ‘diyas’ and other special electronic and sophisticated lighting arrangements.  Regardless of the lighting system, the festival is filled with the feelings conductive to prayers, invocation and adorations to the divine.
Deepavali symbolises man’s quest for light so that the inner corners of his being and sub-consciousness will be brightened, bringing joy to his inner world wherefrom he can radiate wrath, love, compassion and forgiveness. The bright light is about letting go of the past hurt and be mindful of the future.
This results in man’s development of a source of energy that overcomes all the darkness of negativities.
As the ‘diyas’ begin to flicker into radiant life, there are new hopes and aspirations whereby the devoted becomes one with the object of devotion. In this moment there is the awakening to the realities of our real identity.
The lighting of the ‘diyas’ is a special moment; and for all those who have prepared physically and mentally, it serves as a personal experience which makes life and living more meaningful.
In essence benevolence and humility combined with the light of knowledge are the characteristics of a perfect person.
Happy Diwali

 

 PPP DIWALI MESSAGE

The People’s Progressive Party extends best wishes to all Guyanese and to the Hindu community in particular on the occasion of Diwali.
The wonderful festival of lights comes at a time this year when forces around us are trying relentlessly to slow the wheels of advancement and dim the light of hope in our nation.
Diwali which serves to illustrate that good will always triumph over evil in the long run, is a fitting message to those who are currently willing to jeopardize the economic development of our people and place stumbling blocks in our pathway in their quest to simply gain political leverage.
The light broke through in 1992 when the PPP/C won the first free and fair elections in post independent Guyana. This ushered in a new era where democracy and the rights and empowerment of our people prevail. Slowly however, those from that era of dictatorship and oppression have returned and so have their old habits in a new guise.
A return to suffering, starvation, hopelessness, large scale poverty and ultimately economic decline and desperation is not an option for our country. We have come too far as a people; we have made significant gains in gradually, painstakingly working to improve the livelihood of our people.
The journey is never complete as there is more work to be done in our efforts to place our nation on a stable economic platform and ensure each and every Guyanese benefit in a tangible way.
On this auspicious occasion, we hope that the illumination of the diyas and the added brightness from the participation of all Guyanese in this Hindu tradition will be enough to force a change in the hearts and minds of those who currently wish to see our people in a perpetual state of division and suspicion.
Happy Diwali to all!

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