ON Sunday October 19 at the Indian Monument Gardens, the ISHO Guyana Chapter and the United Federation for Arts and Culture will present its inaugural pre-Diwali celebrations. 

While Diwali is celebrated throughout Guyana with much pomp and ceremony, this event will be a prelude to the festivities with an evening of classical Diwali songs and elegant dancing displays.
With outstanding Guyanese talent such as the well known and admirable Sookrane Boodhoo and Mohan Nandu expected to perform, the show promises to be one not to miss.
Also expected to perform is one of Guyana’s foremost Indian musicians, Baskar Sharma. A resident of Canada, he won the first vocal music scholarship to India from the Indian Cultural Center in 1973; he subsequently taught music in Canada and has approximately seven CDs to his name.
Other artistes include top Guyanese singers, Ramkissoon Singh who is a top student of the Indian Cultural Centre and Ceceila Samaroo, the skilled founder and leader of Shakti Stings Orchestra. ‘Jaya’ from the Windsor Forest Arya Samaj Group and ‘Anuradha’ from the Sai Centre at Vreed-en-Hoop on West Coast will also be giving renditions to usher in Diwali.
Sponsored by the SIGFA Health Organisation and the United Federation for Arts and Culture, President of the organisations, Vishnu Bandhu revealed that the show aims at providing traditional Indian songs and music to the patrons.
The funds raised, he said, will go towards acquiring and building an Indian Cultural Band that will be a part of a bigger endeavour of the sponsors to promote local talent.
Vishnu Bandhu was the President of United Arya Samaj Federation (UASF) and currently the honorary President of the UASF New York and President of West Demerara Arya Samaj. He spent his entire life in social work not only in religious organisations but also in the Lions Club and other NGOs.
The creative and enthusiastic Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Group directed by Roshini Boodhoo will be giving special presentations of dancing and plays befitting the celebration of Diwali.
The gates of the Monument Garden located at Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown, will open at 16:00 hrs. (4 pm.). Tickets are priced at $500 for adults and $300 for children and can be uplifted at Bagwans and Satro’s on Water Street. Tickets are also available at the United Federation for Arts and Culture which is located at 48 South New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop. All are invited to the inaugural event and Indian sweetmeats and soft drinks will be on sale.

(By Raveena Mangal)