WHILE many mandirs were busy taking part in motorcades across the country in observance of Diwali, there was at least one which saw the need to celebrate the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness by reaching out to the less fortunate.

Over the course of two days, Thursday and Friday last week, the Mon Repos Shree Satya Narayan Mandir headed by Pandit Deenanauth Seemadray took cheer to hundreds of residents who are less fortunate in the East Coast Demerara villages of Good Hope, Triumph, Mon Repos and Lusignan.
Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle after the distribution exercise, Pandit Seemadray disclosed that the mandir members decided to forgo taking part in this year’s motorcade activities and to reach out to those in need.
He said that their members set out to identify the less fortunate in the four communities who would be recipients of the hampers and over 300 persons benefited.
According to the religious leader, while many persons sing and chant prayers for meals and other necessities for persons during Diwali, not many find the time to reach out to families who really have no means of accessing support.
Asked about the connection between those who attend the mandir and those who benefited, the Pandit explained that there is very little connection since most of those who benefited are from the communities around but are not necessarily connected to the mandir. He described the response and gratitude of the recipients as overwhelming.
Come next year the Mon Repos Shree Satya Narayan Mandir, once it has enough hands on board, intends to take part in the Diwali motorcade as well as reach out to the less fortunate, according to Pandit Seemadray.

(By Leroy Smith)