GUYANESE are celebrating Diwali in New York (NY) this weekend as they have been doing for decades.

It has been an outdoor celebration and even the cold has not put a damper on spirits of the season. Diwali celebrations have been held all over the city over the last week.
There was a spectacular parade last Sunday evening on Liberty Avenue and spiritual concerts at various mandirs. There was a huge turnout at the Cheddi Jagan Square where a concert was held after the parade.

It was one of the largest motorcades in recent times even though it was very cold.  People were well dressed in very colorful attire and there were dozens of vehicles well decorated for the occasion similar to that observed in Guyana.

Diwali celebrations were also held at several mandirs last weekend with cultural shows. A celebration with fireworks was also held at South Street Seaport in downtown Manhattan where a few Guyanese artistes performed.

Diwali is also celebrated in places where large numbers of Guyanese Hindus are settled like Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Toronto, and Jersey City.

Although not a holiday in NY as in Guyana, Diwali is given official city recognition with suspension of alternate parking rules and excused attendance for NYC public school students and staff. Getting parking rules suspension is a way for Hindus to show they’ve “made it” in NY.

New York has the highest concentration of Hindus from almost every country, including Guyana, and the city gives recognition to their holiday. The holiday has been in existence since 2006 after many years of lobbying of politicians and petitions to pressure the city council to act. 

Guyanese, including Pandit Upadhyaya, Vishnu Mahadeo, Ramesh Kalicharran, Vishnu Bisram, Gyandeo, and others were in the forefront in the struggle for that holiday. 

As in Guyana, it allows Hindus to stay in their homes on Diwali to offer prayers, light deyas, exchange gifts and share a holiday meal without having to worry about a traffic ticket. 

Many Guyanese plan to enjoy their day and share it with other cultural groups as they used to in Guyana.

The Diwali festival is a very important event in the lives of Guyanese in the metro region and they eagerly anticipate the festival. Even non-Hindus look forward for the holiday.

Many non-Hindus showed up for the parade on Sunday last. Diwali is celebrated across the community with traditional Guyanese fervor and gaiety making it a mainstream celebration especially in areas where large numbers of Guyanese are settled such as Richmond Hill, Queens Village, Jamaica, Cypress Hills, Westchester, etc.

Homes are decorated. The exterior of houses are decorated with lights and the sidewalks are swept clean. Hindus attach special importance to the Diwali festival comparable to Thanksgiving or the Christmas or Jewish Hanukah. 

They do not feel out of place about lighting flickering (associated Christmas) lights. These add to the beauty of the Diwali festival.  Stores are packed with Diwali related paraphernalia like deyas, wick, ghee, incense, etc. As is the custom, people purchase new traditional attire.

Diwali is a time when Guyanese give generously. They send money and gifts to loved ones back home. And they will fete guests for dinner. As in Guyana, they prepare and distribute mithai (variety of sweets) to neighbours and friends including non-Hindus and send greetings over the media.

The Guyanese media has promoted the festival with radio and television programmes aired Diwali songs last weekend and all this week.  WICR station has aired hours of Diwali music and all day tomorrow will be devoted to Diwali songs.

The festival is usually celebrated with gusto at the mandirs and all of them have scheduled a celebration this Friday evening. Multi-coloured and multi-shaped deyas and other paraphernalia decorate the temples. Diwali celebrations will conclude on Saturday by Pandit Oumadatt and his Mahatma Gandhi Society.

Shubh Diwali!