THE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and the Guyana Pandits’ Council are both appealing to the Hindu community to remain united, even though divisions persist on the date for celebration of Diwali.Spiritual leader of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Jagmohan, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle yesterday, called on all Hindus to pray with faith and devotion. He is confident that their prayers will be answered.

President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindyha Persaud, who was present during the interview, said the Dharmic Sabha, which has been in existence for over 40 years, has always engaged the wider Hindu community, and has even reached out to those opposed to it.

“I want to say that the Hindu community is united, has been united, and will always be united; and I will not like to see a date issue divide the Hindu community, since devotion is something very personal.

“The sabha has always kept the Hindu community together. We do not feel that this is a time for acrimony, hatred or aggression, but (we feel it is) a time for peace and unity,” she said.

President of the Guyana Pandits Council, Rudra Sharma, made a similar appeal on Tuesday. He also called on Hindus throughout Guyana to be united as the country celebrates Diwali, the Festival of Lights, on November 10th — the nationally declared date.

Sharma told the Guyana Chronicle that Diwali is the celebration of love and togetherness, and light over darkness.
Accordingly, he pointed out that there should not be any rancour and ill-feeling towards each other at this time.

“Diwali is one of the most unifying festivals in this country. We don’t want people’s hearts to be filled with any iota of negativity or hatred. I want to see our swamis and pandits behave in a very conciliatory manner, and sit with the Sabha and not exclude us. Our doors are always open,” Dr Persaud told this publication.

An oddity
But Pandit Jagmohan pointed out that while November 10 had been declared the national day for the celebration, the dates given by the Pandits’ Council are a bit odd.

The Pandits’ Council calendar has Diwali on the 10th and 11th, and Gobardhan puja on the 12th. “Diwali occurs on the last day on the dark half of the month, and Gobardhan occurs on the first day in the bright half of the month. Where has the 11th gone?” he asked. He related to this publication that instead of receiving answers, the Dharmic Sabha has received aspersions.

Dr Persaud also noted that while National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had reported that some 90 swamis and pandits supported the November 10 date, the Dharmic Sabha has signatures amounting to close to 6,000 supporting November 11.

According to Pandit Jagmohan, he has been around for some time, and will be more than “willing to meet the 90 wise men that Minister Ramjattan is speaking about.”

Swami Aksharananda, in a letter to the press, praised Minister Ramjattan for consulting widely on the date for the important Hindu festival. “It is perhaps the first time since Diwali has been made a holiday that so many groups have been consulted by the minister concerned. The best and most informed judgement on this and other issues can only be made when the views of all are examined. No single organisation should entertain the ambition of dominating the entire Hindu society. None should be given de facto monopoly,” he said.

Notwithstanding the disagreement over the date for Diwali, the East Coast motorcade — the largest of the lot — will be held on November 10, the eve of Diwali, as has been the custom.
The motorcade in Essequibo is billed for November 6; those on the East Bank and West Coast are billed for November 7; and the one in Berbice is billed for November 10.

By Tajeram Mohabir