The Ministry of Tourism has been partnering with various private individuals and entities in initiatives to boost Guyana’s Tourism sector.  One market Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali is intent on tapping into is religious/commemorative tourism, where Guyanese diasporeans are encouraged to return home to celebrate special events with family and friends in a spirit of camaraderie and with an objective of restoring the community spirit of yesteryear.

So on the occasion of Deepavali, the Guyana Divya Jyoti Association, which includes retired Guyanese Mrs. Dolly Singh, who formerly resided in the United States of America, and local sponsors and participants, who mainly co-ordinate the events, in partnership the Ministry of The Ministry of Tourism and the Guyana Tourism Authority, hosted the East Bank Diwali motorcade and nagar, which was held last Saturday evening, with a dazzling display of floats converging at the National Stadium at Providence.
Minister Irfaan Ali lauded the initiative of the members of the organisation for the “Diwali Nagar and Motorcade 2012”, an unprecedented initiative which enthralled spectators – Guyanese from all walks of life who lined the route to catch a glimpse of the motorcade – beginning at two points, one all the way from Soesdyke on the East Bank of Demerara, and the other from Eccles Old Road, with all converging in the National Stadium at Providence.
The activity culminated with a grand family fair and cultural extravaganza featuring artistes from Trinidad and Tobago and some of Guyana’s finest talent, who were backed by the Shakti Strings Orchestra, and this band needs commendations for the wonderful job they did, because without rehearsals they flawlessly accompanied the Trinidadian vocal artistes.

The genesis of the East Bank motorcade and Diwali Nagar
The annual “East Bank Diwali Nagar and Motorcade” has been held for the sixth year running, initially at the Diamond Ground and for two years at on the national stadium tarmac.  The activity is now included in Guyana’s calendar events.
Mrs. Dolly Singh, who initiated this venture upon her return home, along with her husband, after retiring from her job in the United States of America, had long years of experience in such cultural activities in the USA.  In 1999 she initiated just such a venture in New York, and this event has assumed a life all its own, to the extent where there is now an annual attendance of approximately 20,000 people – of every race and culture in the USA. However, in view of the catastrophe wreaked by superstorm Sandy, and due to gas shortage and police deployment in disaster zones, this year’s NY event would just be a mela, organised by her daughters Geeta, Lakshmee of “Let’s talk with Lakshmee’ fame, assisted by their brother Raju (Buddy), with proceeds going to a fund to help victims of Sandy.  Mrs. Singh is ably assisted by a number of persons, primary among whom are trustee of the organisation, Rajendra Singh, and all-rounder Shameeza Luckhoo.
The programme last Saturday was co-hosted by cultural icons Joel Ghansham and Raymond Azeez; and this is representational of what the Ministry of Tourism hopes to accomplish – a sharing of cultures of Guyana’s multicultural society. Joel Ghansham, a devout Hindu, and Raymond Azeez, a highly-religious leader in the Islamic community, with great camaraderie and aplomb co-hosting a Diwali Nagar, where thousands of Guyanese had gathered to enjoy a family event that combined a fair, complete with ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other entertainment both children and adults, food galore – ambrosial gastronomic delights to tempt the senses of the gods, a cultural extravaganza that, as Raymond said, could match the best anywhere, and a luminously stunning, magnificent display in a cavalcade of colours and glittering, scintillating incandecense of multi-hued lights that transformed ordinary vehicles into chariots of the gods, and beautiful enchantresses into celestial, beauteous Mothers of the Universe.
There were booths with a variety of fashionable Indian apparel on display, as well as gracefully draping the bodies of both women and men; but it was T.V. personality Joel Ghansham who was the indubitable star of the evening.  Joel’s fashion statements and style are inimitable, and that evening he bedazzled the crowd with an ensemble of shimmery black kurta woven out of silver threads and crystals, teamed with Punjabi pajamas and accessorized with crystal jewelry and fashionable black shoes.
The fascinating allure of this absolutely enchanting, charismatic, iconic fashionista has captivated the admiration of an enthralled audience countrywide, and his fan following is greater than any other talk show host in Guyana.
His beguiling charm has mesmerized fans who seemingly await his highly innovative and entertaining programmes to commence each evening on NTN channel 69.

Emulating the “light” of Mother Lakshmi
But what makes Joel stand out from the crowd is his exquisite courtesy, even in the face of provocation, and his quintessential, superlative sense of humanity.  He epitomizes the significance of Deepavali, because the light of good graces and charitable, humane actions shine and irradiate the lives of all those with whom he interacts; and one anecdote may serve to explain, more than words, his uniquely humane persona.
Travelling up the highway on the East Coast corridor late one evening Joel noticed an indigent woman standing alone on the highway.  Buses were not stopping to pick her up, so Joel stopped, called a taxi from a nearby base, which he was prepared to pay to drop her to her destination in Georgetown; but the driver refused to drop “that beggar woman”, despite Joel’s offer to double the fare, so Joel went miles out of his way to drop the woman in Georgetown, late at night when he was hungry and tired.  He could give lessons in courtesy and compassion to national leaders who say they care about people but who drive solo in luxurious vehicles they acquire duty-free and would splash someone, even children, standing for hours in remote areas waiting for transportation in the rain or sun without offering them a ride.
While co-hosting the programme last Saturday, gregarious Joel spotted the old woman in the crowd and called out to her, in his inimitable, extremely charming style, “Auntie, don’t you remember me?” And during a lull he took a box of sweetmeats over to her, did not just hand it over, but sat and chatted with her also.  What an absolutely amazing personality in these days of self-centred and self-absorbed human beings. Joel ghansham exudes that light within that is representational of all the characteristics of Mother Lakshmi.

A surpassingly enthralling cultural extravaganza
That Guyana has incredible talent, in every genre of entertainment, has long been an established fact; and the impressive extravaganza of cultural items on the Guyana Divya Jyoti Association’s programme last Saturday evening was unrivalled in both talent and innovation.
Blessed with a prayer by Pandit Aditya Persaud and chanting by the Iskcon Movement, the programme started with a spectacular interpretation of a solo Ganesh vandana, choreographed and performed by Kenrick Cheeks, which was followed by a tabla interlude by the teacher of the Indian Cultural Centre, Shri Pradeep Kumar.
The Cummings Lodge Mandir – Nritya Sangha then essayed a gripping, foot-thumping Bhojpuri folk dance and an ode to Lord Krishna – “Khanna” from Saira Banu/Joy Mukherjee starrer “Shagird”, after which vocal diva Celia Samaroo mesmerized the audience with renditions of yesteryear.
But it was the formula of the ancestors, who brought this phenomenally rich culture to these shores through their Ram katha enactments that captivated an enthralled audience and held them spellbound. Pt. Ghanshyam of Mahaica rendered the Ramleela Katha, in the taan genre with all the traditional instruments – Pandit Ghanshyam accompanying himself on the versatile harmonium, with his young son on the dhantal, and the dholak played by Sheik Singh.  His renditions were so gripping that it motivated the young members of the Shakti Strings Orchestra to join in and together they melded the past and present in a confluence of melody that impelled strident requests for an encore.
Nari Raghubir from Trinidad and Tobago was next with an exhilarating rendition of “Kaikay paan Banaras wala” from the movie Don, made popular by Amitabh Bacchan, followed by mirchi, chilli, hot pepper, however one describes it, “Mast Khalander” rendered by Reshma Ramlall from T & T was really hot stuff, what Raymond described as a rollicking performance.
Students of Camille’s Institute followed with an enchanting display of glamorous ethnic Indian wear, brilliantly modelled by older students and appealing younger students in two sequences, and an impromptu dance to “Oo la la”, of “The Dirty Picture” fame.
Devina and Ashram of the Bollywood Dance Troupe out of T & T were heart-stealers with their exquisitely-mesmeric classical dance – flawlessly executed in perfectly synchronized steps to “mera Dholna” from “Bhool Bhulaiye”, after which Hashim and Devi performed a romantic interlude to “Piya Ori”.
Guyana boasts a resplendent cultural mosaic woven in a tapestry of nationhood where acculturation has blurred defined lines and proven that culture has no boundaries; and Afro-Guyanese maestro of old Indian classics, Colin Freeman is a perfect example of this unifying process. He dedicated his medley of hits from yesteryears to his “two bhaijis” Raymond Azeez and Joel Ghansham.
The Indian Cultural Centre dance troupe performed two dance items, including the “Guru vandana” flawlessly.
A dance item by the East Bank PYO Group, led by Baby, and other presentations by Seema Bisram, Nari Raghubir of T & T, along with other local and T & T artistes kept a captivated audience of thousands riveted to their seats.

Motorcade winners
It was likely a difficult decision for the judges, because all the floats and their respective depictions were magnificently, resplendently displayed and illuminated the East Bank night skies like a galaxy of heavenly chariots, but the decision was finally reached and the East Bank branch of the Progressive Youth Organisation took the first prize, with Patrick Rajaram of Timehri coming in 2nd, Sitaram Mandir 3rd, ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) 4th, and Coverden Ayodhya  Mandir in 5th place.
Five consolation prizes were also awarded.
Indranauth Haralsingh of the GTA moved the vote of thanks, which concluded the festivities of the evening.