The import of The National Diya – Hindus for Selfless Service

This is the second year that the Hindus For Selfless Service (HSS – Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh) is proud to be organising a National Diya for the Guyanese Nation. This is being done on the Sunday evening of the week leading up to the commemoration of the Hindu Festival of Divali.

It is well known that the festival of Divali or Deepvali – meaning a row of lights – originated in ancient Indian which is in the Northern Hemisphere as we are in Guyana.  India has always used a fixed lunar calendar with 30 days per month., Divali falls on the darkest night of the month of Kartika  – Amayasya night – which is what in the west we call “new moon or No-moon” . In India, Divali is celebrated on two separate days with South India doing so one day before the North, because of different interpretations of the lunar calendar. We appeared to have imported this custom recently in Guyana.

Divali, as with most Hindu Festivals, commemorates the overcoming of the forces of backwardness by those of goodness and progress. In North India it commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his city after defeating King Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife, Mother Sita. Mother Lakshmi, the giver of wealth, is also worshipped. In South India the defeat of King Narak by Lord Krishna, for  imprisoning thousands of young women,  is commemorated. And in East India including Bengal,  Kali Mai, (Mother Kali) the consort of Lord Shiva is worshipped. In accordance with a central principle of Hinduism, there are no quarrels about these differences of commemoration since Hindus accepts differences in perspectives on the “same” truth.

In Guyana, Indians were brought from all parts of India and it is indeed fitting that all the different ways of commemorating the event, including new ones that incorporate new circumstances, are observed.

The Guyana National Diya, symbolizes the light that must be lit in the hearts and minds of all Guyanese as we celebrate the strength of our unity in diversity to build our nation to ever greater heights.

This year is especially auspicious since it marks the 50th anniversary of the attainment of independence from Britain.

Lakshmi Mata Ki Jai!  Shri Ram Ki Jai; Kali Mai Ki Jai., Shri Krishna Ki Jai! Guyana Desh Ki Jai!!