Dear Editor,
It is not without notice that this year’s Phagwah celebration was once more tainted by confusion regarding the date and auspicious timings for which the festival is to be celebrated.
It is, in my opinion Editor, that this confusion will continue to take place whenever a Hindu festival has to be observed at the national level, since the Hindu leaders of this country have little or no cooperation among themselves and are all concerned with making a name for themselves even if it’s at the expense of Hindu unity and oneness. These leaders should learn to put aside their differences whether politically or ideologically and work towards the propagation of unity and peace, not discord and disdain for each other.
It is very sad, Editor, that many of these organisations which are now arguing over which date is wrong and which date is right, are otherwise very silent about the real issues that are affecting Hindus and Indo-Guyanese throughout Guyana. Where are these organisations when issues such as suicide and poverty wreak havoc in the homes of the Hindu? Or when domestic violence and alcoholism continuw to destroy homes of the Indo Guyanese? Why are they not so vocal when proselytism continues to eat away the fabric of our religion? These are the things that Pandits and Hindu leaders should seek to resolve and attack at the forefront! Not use their knowledge and position as Pandits to bring each other to disrepute! It is a ghastly thing to do!
Finally, Editor, I would like to state that although the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) is one of the leading organisations involved in the date fiasco and is also possibly the one responsible for all this confusion, this organisation and its leader, Dr Vindhya Persaud, should be given credit for the many things that they are doing for both Hindus and Indo Guyanese. This organisation continues to promote Hinduism through its various and consistent cultural programmes and promote awareness of the contributions of East Indians to the Guyanese society. The Sabha also successfully runs an orphanage located at Ankerville, Port Mourant, Berbice and over the past years would have carried out several workshops and seminars aimed at suicide awareness and alcoholism. This, dear Editor, is how you truly help Hindus, not by propagating division and hatred for each other.
In conclusion, I would like to pose a question to all those leaders and organisations that would have vehemently argued about this date and that date: What have you and your organisation done to improve the lives of Hindus in Guyana? “It is time we give jack he jacket.”
Yours faithfully,
Yogeshwar Mathoo, B.sc, Soc.
