– calls for harsher penalties for those found culpable of selling illegal pyrotechnics
‘OH Maa, help our leaders (in law enforcement) to demonstrate concern for the people; help our people to mature mentally, spiritually and socially, Jai Latchmi Maa.’

This was the appeal of Pandit Deodat Persaud as some persons bombarded the peaceful East Canje, Berbice community with the use of illegal pyrotechnics (firecrackers/explosives) during the Diwali celebrations on Sunday evening.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle at the Reliance Mandir in East Canje, Pandit Persaud observed that during the early part of the evening, some persons were quite sedate and conducted themselves in a respectable manner; but as the evening progressed and households began to spread their diyas across their yards, contempt infiltrated the peace, and sections of East Canje were plunged into chaos.
“I thought (that) as Guyanese we ought to embrace the culture of each other and show some form of respect for religious holidays. This is something else! This is a real desecration of our observance. I am so disappointed to see our people being so thoughtless in their actions,” he asserted.

BOOM BOXES & BAR-B-QUE
Persaud also noted that, in recent years, a new culture of staging bar-b-que events and jam sessions involving ear-splitting music crept into the Diwali celebrations. He said the Hindu community strongly disapproves of it, and is calling on the ‘B’ Division Police to address the issue.
“It is not about comparing a Hindu national holiday with that of any other religious group, but we do not see these things happening in such a way on Good Friday. We, as Hindus, are simply asking for persons to demonstrate respect for our special observance; and if they fail to do so, then we hope that the police can assist us in this regard.
“It has been too long since certain deviants have been causing utter confusion with their bar-b-que and loud music, then the public terror with the use of squibs and bombs,” he lamented.
It was pointed out that the steering committees at temples throughout East Canje had approached the law enforcement officials in the past requesting police presence in the vicinity of mandirs, where delinquents usually linger and toss lighted firecrackers at devotees; but those appeals have apparently fallen on deaf ears.
“I think I have to discuss this with the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and see if we can have direct intervention from the Ministry of Home Affairs to assist us in the way they assisted our brothers and sisters at the Alexander Village (East Bank of Demerara) Mandir when they were under siege by the pyromaniacs, not so long ago,” he alluded.

TERRIFIED DEVOTEES
Devotees at the Jai Shri Krishna Mandir in Cumberland, East Canje were terrified to the point of being reluctant to re-light diyas on the parapet of the temple, because those diyas had been affected by strong winds. Pandit Persaud said: “They were very scared, because squibs were tossed at them constantly. One squib was even thrown at my car, but luckily, it missed. Maha Latchmi saved me from the terror.”
Pandit Deodat Persaud is calling for harsher penalties for those found culpable of selling illegal items that are used to create chaos and darken the image of religious festivities.
“Pyrotechnics are illegal. However, during the Diwali and Christmas seasons, these instruments of terror are apparently smuggled into the country and sold at street corners by vendors who give precedence to making money rather than to demonstrate love and respect for others,” he declared.

(By Michael Khan)