Dear Editor,
I DO not know if Guyana’s Parliament celebrates Diwali. But legislatures and executives of several countries, even where Diwali is not a national holiday, host Diwali celebrations to show appreciation for the festival, to join their Hindu colleagues in solidarity, and to promote national cohesion.

If the Guyana Parliament and members of that body, as well as national political figures, do not currently celebrate (host) Diwali events, they should take a page from the books of politicians from around the globe and start doing so (in addition to celebrating Eid, Easter, etc.) to help with national unity and building a harmonious, cohesive society.

The British Parliament; Canadian House of Commons, as well as Provincial Legislatures and City Councils; U.S. Congress; the White House (President Obama) and the Vice President’s Home (Vice President Biden); Governors and Legislatures of several states; New York City Council and other local governments; N.Y Metropolitan Museum of Arts, etc. host Diwali celebrations (in addition to Eid celebration).

I attended in Trinidad several Diwali celebrations hosted by politicians of different parties and ethnic groups. Trinidad’s Parliament hosted Diwali celebration, as they also did for Eid and Easter. Members of Parliament of all ethnicities (and faiths) dressed up in traditional Indian garb and attended Parliament. The Speaker hosts Diwali celebration. Each ministry of government in Trinidad also hosts Diwali celebrations, with staff of diverse ethnicity all dressed up in traditional Indian attire. The Trinidad President also hosts Diwali celebration and invites the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, MPs, diplomats, judges, etc to his special Diwali programme.

Former President Max Richards, a non-Hindu, lit deyas in his presidential home, and hosted dinner for special invitees, which included diplomats and other dignitaries. The Opposition Leader celebrated Diwali at her constituency office with the Indian Ambassador as Chief Guest. The political parties (PNM, UNC, COP) also hosted Diwali celebrations. Each MP (Indian and non-Indian) hosted Diwali celebrations in their constituencies.
These have been annual events going back for many years. It is a tradition for the President, MPs and Ministers to attend the nine nights of Diwali celebrations at the spectacular Nagar in Central Trinidad, which attracts over ten thousands nightly, and 20K on the final night before Diwali.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, will close this year’s celebration organized by the National Council of Indian Culture with a fireworks spectacle.

Diwali has been celebrated annually in US Congress, at the White House, at governors’ mansions (Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, etc.) and at state legislatures over the last fifteen years. President Bush started Diwali celebration at the White House in 2001, and it has since been observed annually. The Congress also hosts annual Diwali celebrations. The US Congress celebrated Diwali on November 4 with over 1,000 Indian American invitees and others, including Guyanese and other Caribbean people attending.

Diwali is celebrated by more than two million people in the U.S., including over 250K Guyanese Hindus. Some 30 members of Congress partook in the celebrations last Wednesday evening. The event was used to celebrate the accomplishments of the Indian American diaspora.

The annual Diwali celebration, which attracts leaders from Indian-American organizations from all over the U.S., was organised this year by Congressman Ami Bera and Congressman George Holding, Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Caucus on India and Indian-Americans. Previous celebrations had Indo-Caribbean pandits presiding over the ceremony.

Prof. Anant Rambachan of Trinidad led celebrants at Diwali lighting at the White House on several occasions. Guyanese Americans were invited to past celebrations at the White House and in Congress. City Council Members of NY hosted Diwali celebrations annually over the last decade.

The Members of Congress say Diwali at Capitol Hill provides an opportunity to meet with members of Congress and other elected officials to celebrate the contributions of the South Asian community in medicine, business, technology, health care, arts, academics, and much more.

Bera, the lone Indian-American congressman, and one of only two Hindus in the august body, in a release about the event, said: “This event celebrates who we are and all our community has accomplished”. He added: “Over the next decade, I look forward to making D.C. the hub for connecting members of the community, not just from the surrounding region, but (from) across the country, to celebrate our progress and talk about the future.
The Indian-American community has been playing a key role in building needed ties between our two countries, and I congratulate the volunteers who worked to make this year’s Diwali celebration in Washington a success.”

The Guyana President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and the political parties should initiate and host their own Diwali celebrations (indeed, all major cultural celebrations), as it would help to bring about national cohesion.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram