PRESIDENT of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Vasini Persaud, has expressed her heartfelt thanks to the thousands who came out to view the Sabha’s countrywide motorcades. 

Motorcades were held in all of the Sabha’s eight Praant – Upper Corentyne, Central Corentyne, East Berbice, West Berbice, East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara and Essequibo.
According to a press release from the President of the Sabha, she is touched by the outpouring of support for their efforts to sustain an almost 40-year tradition started by Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud. She also expressed her appreciation to the hundreds who participated in creating floats for the motorcades around the country and recognized the growing numbers of youths who engaged in the exercise.
Children and young people beautifully adorned sat patiently on the floats and earned the admiration of all who viewed the spectacular floats. The Sabha wishes to encourage more participation next year as the organisation celebrates its 40th anniversary, especially from the business community and corporate world.
The Sabha is proud that Guyana hosts the only motorcade in the Caribbean and is the genesis of those started in North America. Our motorcades were featured on CNN as part of a feature on notable Diwali celebrations around the world.

DISRUPTIONS
While the Sabha is pleased with the growth of Diwali in Guyana and the participation in the festival by Guyanese of all walks of life, the President of the Sabha was vociferous in her condemnation of the alarming rise of disruptions of Diwali Pujas, satsangh and lighting of diyas experienced by families and mandirs in several communities by the wanton throwing of squibs and fire crackers.

The Sabha is proud that Guyana hosts the only motorcade in the Caribbean and is the genesis of those started in North America. Our motorcades were featured on CNN as part of a feature on notable Diwali celebrations around the world –  President of the Sabha

She was emphatic that squibs and firecrackers have no place in the celebration of Diwali and neither does the sale and consumption of alcohol close to temples and religious premises. The wanton disregard for people, their properties, animals and celebrations by those who purchase and use these dangerous items should be condemned. It is illegal and poses a noise nuisance and a danger to those they are thrown at and is disrespectful in the extreme to those engaging in the observance of their festivals.

PERSONS URGED TO DESIST
We call on persons to desist from this practice and on the police to continue their efforts to sanction those who insist on carrying out these acts.
The Sabha’s founder and President of the Sabha, Pt. Reepu Daman Persaud, was instrumental in having some order restored around the Alexander Village Mandir during Diwali time and we at the Sabha will continue to advocate for respect to be given to all at Diwali time and also on other religious occasions throughout the year.
The Sabha wishes to sincerely thank the judges of the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Motorcade, Pradeep Samtani, Minister of Culture, Dr. Frank Anthony, Harry Parmesar, Dr. Seepersaud Chatterdeo and Philbert Gajadhar for their competent judging of the motorcade. Also thanks to the newly-launched E-Networks Orchestra, Rekha Singh, Sookrane Boodhoo, Caribbean Hotshots Band, popular Bollywood singer Jeffrey Iqbal who thrilled patrons at the Diwali Utsav, and the Dharmic Nritya Sangh for entertaining thousands at the LBI Community Centre Ground.
The Sabha congratulates the winners of the Diwali Motorcade 2013 and thank their sponsors profusely for coming on board and supporting the magnificent celebrations of the Sabha.

WINNERS
The winners of the Georgetown/East Coast Demerara Motorcade were:
Large Category – 1st Better Hope Mandir, 2nd- PYO, 3rd –Balessar Family, 4th- Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir, 5th- Dharmic Naujawan, 6th – Lusignan Radha Krishna Mandir, Commercial – Edward B. Beharry and Co.
Small Category – 1st- Success Mandir, 2nd- Rosignol Mandir, 3rd- Montrose Bhakti Bhawan Mandir, 4th- Bushlot Vishnu Mandir, 5th Station St. Community, 6th- Strathavon Mandir.
Special Prizes were won for most creative floats by Balessar family, Rosignol Sanatan Mandir, Golden Om Dharmic, Bushlot Vishnu Mandir. The Andrew Art’s Prizes for newest mandirs were won by Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir and Bushlot Vishnu Mandir.
The DIGICEL sponsored prize for best overall float was won by the PYO.
The Sabha also expressed its gratitude to sponsors Digicel, ICEE, E-Networks, GBTI, Courts (Guyana) Inc., Southland International Inc, NTN, TCL (Guyana) Inc., Demerara Bank Ltd, GPL, Digicom, Neil and Massey (Guyana) Group, UMDA PHALKA Ghee, GUYOIL, Metro Office and Computer Supplies, L. Seepersaud Maraj and Sons, Giftland Office Max, Tony’s Auto Spares, Laparkan Holdings, SOCA, NAMILCO, Anje’s, TSD Lal and Co, Barcellos Narine and Co., Rent-a-Tent and NCN, B. K Marine Inc. and GUYSUCO for their support.