NATIONAL Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is as solid as a rock on the observance of Diwali on November 10, contending that he has been advised by pundits and swamis.President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindyha Persaud, Mr Ramjattan said, is not a priest but a pure politician, and as such he can only submit to the views of the learned on the subject.

“The pandits and swamis of this country, totalling some 90, whose signatures I have, and who have rationalised and justified why it should be November 10, 2015, asked me, the Minister with power under the law, to correct the mistake made by politician, Dr Vindhya Persaud. In accordance with my religious principles and my legal duty, I did exactly that,” Minister Ramjattan said.
The swamis and pandits to whom Mr Ramjattan referred, represent other sabhas, including the Maha Sabha, the Viraat Sabha, and the Vedic Sabha, amongst others.
He said it would be oppressively discriminatory to leave the decision to just one sabha, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.
According to the Dharmic Sabha, Diwali, which occurs annually on Amawasya, or the new moon day of the Hindu month of Kartik, is the 15th Tithi in the dark half of Kartik, and the darkest night of the year.
And according to the Panchang/Patra, this occurs on November 11.
“This coincides exactly with the western astronomers’ calculation of the new moon, which is listed for Guyana as occurring on November 11 at 13:47hrs. The new-moon effect will be experienced as darkness falls,” the Dharmic Sabha said, adding that performing Maha Lakshmi Puja on November 11 would, therefore, be on new-moon day as prescribed.
The Viraat Sabhaa is, however, arguing that what is explicit, as contained in the Kaashi Panchang/Patra (an annual publication on astrology and Hinduism) is that Pradosh Kaal, Nisheet and Mahaa Nischeet Kaal (all being auspicious times), are present on November 10.
With Amawasya (dark night) ending on 13:47 hours on Wednesday, November 11, after which, automatically, a new moon begins, Viraat Sabhaa is arguing that this further confirms November 10 as the official day, since the festival cannot be observed in the new moon, but must be on the darkest night of the year.

NOT WITHIN NORM
Learned Pandit, Ramdial Balbadar, in a letter to Mr Ramjattan, has accused Dr Persaud of fixing the religious date according to her whim and fancy, and not in keeping within the norms of the Hindu tradition.
“In trying to wiggle out of a situation, Dr Persaud is trying to use arguments which cannot stand up to reason and basic Hindu Astrology facts. This thing na wuk so. But I can now understand why all dates in the Dharmic Sabha Calendar occurs a day after the dates in the panchangs,” he said, contending that the Dharmic Sabha, a cultural organisation, does not appear to be familiar with the subject.
Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has thrown its support behind the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, and is calling on the government to rescind the November 10 date declared for the celebration of Diwali.
The PPP, in a release, said it unequivocally supports the call of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha for the festival to be celebrated on November 11, saying that there must be no political interference in religious affairs.
“Further, the party demands the political date given as a national holiday be withdrawn forthwith and that November 11, 2015, be declared the national holiday as agreed and reflected in all calendars issued in the national territory of Guyana,” the release concluded.
But Minister Ramjattan said he had “very good” reasons to declare the date for Diwali, and will not relent.
“November 10th it shall be,” he said.