Dear Editor,
As in Guyana and among the Guyanese diaspora in the US, Diwali was celebrated with utmost joy in India. As I observed during my travels in India during that festive period, the ancient custom of celebrating Diwali as in Guyana has been retained with very strong traditions. It was a most awe-inspiring and spectacular festival in India.
Each town or region has its own unique festivity for the occasion (with its own distinct type of foods and sweets), with people well attired in traditional clothing. But diyas and electronic lights are common to the festivity regardless of location. And it was indeed a grand festival throughout the hundreds of miles I visited. Buildings, streets, vehicles, and temples were brilliantly illuminated with electronic lights, and there were all kinds of decorations in front of homes, as is now the norm in the USA among the large Guyanese Hindu community.
I was most fortunate to spend pre-Diwali (Chota Diwali) on the banks of the holy Sirju River in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh state, from where most indentured labourers came to Guyana and the Caribbean and other parts of the globe. I met several other Guyanese visiting UP for Diwali. A group of Guyanese diaspora tourists are in Jaipur for Diwali.
Ayodhya is the holy city where Lord Ram was born, and from where he was exiled (sent into Banbas for 14 years); and his return to the city led to the creation of Diwali. Hundreds of thousands visit the city daily for pilgrimage.
In addition to Ayodhya, I visited several other towns and villages from where Indo-Guyanese were recruited as indentured labourers. As I observed, the customs and rituals practised in Guyana relative to Diwali are similar to those practised in the villages of Uttar Pradesh. As in Guyana and the USA, houses are cleaned and spruced up with new materials and bartan (wares for meal preparation), and are well lit on that day. People illuminate their houses with coloured lights and earthen lamps. And people celebrated with fervor and euphoria, filling their stomachs with traditional vege meals and sweets, and participating in, and witnessing, fireworks.
In Ayodha, there was a massive pre-Diwali celebration on Wednesday. It was organised with the assistance of Vice Chancellor Manoj Dixit of Avadh University, where I was an official guest. The Chief Minister (CM), Yogi Adityanath, and Governor Ram Naik were the chief guests at the Diwali celebrations. It was the biggest Diwali celebration ever in the town since the time of Lord Rama — a magnificent spectacle with some 200,000 lit diyas and millions of colourful electronic lights (every colour imaginable) on the banks of the river. The various earthen diyas and the electric lights lit up the night sky such that it could be seen from miles away. This was followed by magnificent fireworks. Sparkle flares were also set off during the night, there and on the rooftops of homes. Prof Dixit said it was an amazing scene and lifetime experience to be there at the Ram Ki Paidi and watch 2 lakh diyas being lit simultaneously by the volunteers of the Avadh University.
He said: “It was an uphill task, but around 3000 young volunteers and their teachers made it look so easy. This only shows that people want Ayodhya to be like that, and they are willing to contribute for that. As the Vice Chancellor of the University, I feel proud to have been a part of the achievement as well as a witness to the event. This will undoubtedly boost tourism in the region”.
Before the evening came alive with beautiful lights, there was a parade of skits (on floats), recreating scenes from the Ramayana.
As among Guyanese Hindus in America, Diwali in India is a period when families reunite and exchange gifts and sweets with each other. People gifted sweets and other items (including jewelry, murtis, clothing, etc.) to their loved ones and neighbours. Oil lamps were lit and crackers were burst to celebrate the festive season. As is the custom in Guyana or New York, lit diyas were seen in front of homes and businesses two nights before Diwali, as well as on Diwali evening.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
