IN my many years living in the USA and in and out of Trinidad, I recently had the great pleasure to celebrate Diwali in San Fernando, Trinidad. However, I was astonished about the change in race relations in southern Trinidad by those celebrating Diwali 2011. In San Fernando, I was amazed at the joy and merriment wherein many black children, (including teenaged girls) holistically lighted diyas, enjoyed their parsad and participated in the religious Hindu bajans [songs] without any reluctance, a hurdle more Indians of other religions need to emulate.
I witnessed first-hand how this Hindu festival was being observed in both private and government institutions, including the San Fernando Town Hall.
To satisfy my curiosity, I asked probing questions to my non-Hindu participants, and I was again surprised by the many responses.
Many blacks who participated in the Hindu Diwali festival mentioned that their pedigree was that of Hindus,[mostly of maternal] and therefore they had every right to be part of anything Hindu, albeit Indian. Some of the blacks also explained they are not like the northerners of Trinidad, but “we here in south grow up in Indian villages and accustom to Indian ways and habits. In Indian villages, no one goes hungry,” they proudly pointed out.
Contrast this with the reluctance of Christian Indians who do not participate in their blood-line festivals.
In fact, they loathe any association with or appreciation of their Hindu origin. Isn’t this more threatening to the survival of Hindu culture when compared to our black brothers and sisters’ symbiotic camaraderie? One can envisage a situation developing if black people continue to be proud participants of Hindu culture and celebrations.
Some time in the future, a black bhaiji (it means brother now, so don’t get fussy) will head the Maha Sabha. Quite a reminder lesson that the Jews rejected Christ, to find the latter’s disciples such as Peter and Paul (all Gentiles) becoming the eventual celebrated Christian heroes.
This Hindu would welcome with open arms those Indian Christians to merrily sing the bajans of their Hindu ancestry as much as they thoroughly enjoy dhal and rice and bigan curry and roti, all exclusively of Hindu origin.
In eating Hindu origin culinary delights, one does not earn any demerits in attaining salvation, as evidenced by many blacks kindling a light to dispel darkness and ignorance. Who is wiser by their actions?
I must admit that the Diwali celebrations of 2011 have made an impact on me.