THERE was no grand motorcade starting in Campbellville and making its way up the East Coast of Demerara (ECD); there even weren’t any of the usual shows which spruce up the holiday; unless of course you count the virtual attempts. But for sure, the Guyanese celebrations of Diwali found a way to endure the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Irfaan Ali and his family set the tone over at their official residence– State House. Some 1,200 diyas were ubiquitous; they lined the pathways and illuminated the intricate rangoli designs.

The First Family was joined by Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d), Mark Phillips and his wife, Mignon Bowen-Phillips; Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo; Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd.

Other than State House, Campbellville, Georgetown was ‘lit’. Ann Diaz was joined by her family and friends in Delph Street, where they were spinning steel wool, lighting diyas and just enjoying the time together.

“This year is extra special for me because I found out in March that I have cancer and it’s a special time for me with my family and my friends,” Diaz told the Sunday Chronicle.

Diwali is actually one of Diaz’s favourite holidays, and she highlighted how happy she was to be surrounded by her friends and family, making memories. Her bubbly personality was effusive and though they were making fun of each other at various times, you could tell everyone was having a grand time.

“Even though we’re social distancing and I know it’s a pandemic and we have to be extra careful with everything, I’m just very grateful for everything,” Diaz emphasised.

Further along in Delph Street was Omawattie and her family. Every year, the Diwali motorcade would begin a stone’s throw away from her front gate, literally. Though she missed the motorcade this year, she joked that she still stayed up all night looking at the virtual display put on by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS). And, pandemic or not, she had to make sure her home was bright enough for the rest of the street.

Cambellville’s main attraction though was the setup at D Singh’s Trading, and the other houses in the vicinity. Shivnarine Singh, fondly called ‘the Appleman’ of D Singh’s Trading, told this publication that each year he has to ensure that he has a grand Diwali celebration.

“The pandemic affected the celebrations generally but not with me because I does try to make the best of everything and this is my holiday you know,” Singh said.

The extravagant setup was not just for him, though. Instead, he posited that seeing people pass by his home to marvel at his decorations gives him a feeling of “inner joy”.

And, he wants everyone to indulge in his family’s celebrations too. It is for this reason they brought our basins filled with sweet treats to give to any passerby, who drives by slowly to get a look at the display.

“Everybody says Diwali is about good over evil, but it is also about peace and prosperity, and that means that you can pray for everyone in the world to have prosperity and especially with this pandemic you want everybody to have the courage to keep pushing through,” the ‘Appleman’ said.