The value of religious teachings and the principles of cultural heritage pave the way for understanding and President Dr Irfaan Ali is calling on families and communities to unite and support each other during the upcoming Diwali celebration.
โToday, we live in a world that is marked with immense darknessโฆUnder such circumstances, as a nation, we must reenergize ourselves. We must brighten our individual light to create a collective brightness that will make the changes that are positive for our country and our people,โ President Ali said on Tuesday.
He was at the time addressing the opening of the first ever โOne Guyana Diwali Jalsaโ cultural celebration which was held at the Corriverton Recreational Park, Region Six.
(Photo: Office of the President)
The event features a variety of cultural performances, spiritual services, the display of traditional Indian cuisines and clothing among other Diwali-related activities.
According to President Ali, the initiative seeks to bring together families to share and understand their cultural and religious heritage.
(Photo: Office of the President)
As such, the Head of State said the celebration will continue in the coming years so that families from the diaspora can plan their activities during Diwali celebration to be present in Guyana.
โIn the next five days, I want families to come outโฆenjoy the spiritualityโฆUplift each other, support each other and when we do so we will continue to build a stronger and stronger Guyana,โ President Ali urged.
The Head of State said every community throughout the country benefits from the investments the government has been making in the various sectors.
But all of this, he said โadds to the economic prosperity of the people in the region.โ
The โOne Guyana Diwali Jalsaโ will be held from November 7 to 11.
The event is being hosted by the Office of the First Lady, the Ministries of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; and Culture, Youth, and Sport.
Commendable celebration of the Hindu Festival of Divali will bring cohesiveness, brotherhood and oneness to the fragmented Guyanese people who will now regard Maduro as the demon King Rawana bent on appropriating the Kingdom of Dassarat for his evil ways.
The forests of the Essequibo will bring back fresh memories of the forests to which King Rama was exiled and will cause internal cohesion to ward off any impending threat to this area through the forces of evil and abhiman to subjugate Guyanese people in constant occupation of this part of their landed patrimony that they call home.
Both Divali Nagar being celebrated now in T&T and “Divali Ki Jalsa” can emerge and become poles of attractions for both the Indo-Caribbean diaspora and NRI’s to venture to the Caribbean to see how Indian Festivals have been retained through cultural perseverance of its authentic religious and cultural manifestations brought here by the Indian indentured pitris.
It can also serve as powerful tourist attraction by the diversification of the tourism product and encourage cultural innovation, craft development, the performing, culinary and visual arts, events management skills and cultural fusion and cross fertilisation of cultures that can redound to real nation building and promote the One Guyana Policy Platform.