By Vishnu Bisram
DIWALI was celebrated by members of the Guyanese diaspora as well as by Hindus at home. Public celebrations were organised and or patronised by Guyanese in Queens, Manhattan, Trinidad, and other parts of the USA as well as in Canada and other locations.

In October 2022, this writer participated in Diwali celebrations in New York City, Trinidad, and Guyana. There are Diwali and other forms of acculturation across vast areas of America, especially in New York, New Jersey, Florida, and elsewhere, thanks to the culture brought to the USA by Guyanese and others. Hindus, including Guyanese, are one of the fastest growing minority populations in the United States, numbering over three million. Guyanese have planted their culture in the USA as they have also done in Canada and UK. Hindus, including Guyanese, have the highest income group in the USA, with family incomes exceeding US$100,000 annually and they also have highest educational achievements of all ethnic groups. Politicians court them for campaign donations and votes. Thus, politicians host Diwali celebrations all over the country to court and woo them and Guyanese are in the thick of the celebrations in various parts of the USA.

Diwali celebrations in NY were held at South Street Seaport by nationals from India and included participants from the diaspora. Hundreds of Guyanese patronised the annual South Street celebrations that included various activities, food festival, dignified cultural variety Bollywood style concert, arts and crafts, a dinner for special invitees and officials, and fireworks. This annual downtown Manhattan celebration has been ongoing for some 30 years.

Diwali celebration was also held in Times Square, organised by nationals from India, attracting tens of thousands of patrons including hundreds of Guyanese. There was a Diwali celebration held at the same time in Richmond Hill, Queens, attracting thousands. The celebrations brought diverse people together, similar to those in Guyana. But unlike celebrations in Manhattan, there were no traditional lights as celebrations in Queens an in Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname. There was more spiritual attachment to the celebrations by Guyanese in Queens and at the Diwali Nagar and at home.

The Trinidad Diwali Nagar started on October 15 and concluded on October 23. Prior to that, there was a nine nights Ramayana Yagya which this writer attended for a night. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Guyanese patronised the nightly lit Diwali Nagar in Central Trinidad at the NCIC headquarters. Traditional deyas were lit up all over the compound alongside brilliantly illuminated multi-coloured electronic lightings. Lit deyas were also positioned on flexible designs of bamboos. It was a spectacular display of lights, not seen anywhere else. In Trinidad, government offices, the President and the Prime Minister, as well as MPs and Ministers of government hosted Diwali celebrations in their offices or in their constituencies. The Opposition Leader hosted celebration in her office and also patronised the Nagar which was also visited by several Ministers of Government. Also, workplaces across Trinidad were the scenes of celebrations with lit deyas and electronic lights. Staff of different ethnicities were dressed in traditional Indian or Hindu attire.  The airport (at Piarco) was well festooned with appropriate Diwali festival decorations. In Trinidad, government and private buildings had their lobbies decorated with bright lights and hanging ornaments. There were Diwali skits at the airports and at state offices similar to that at Timehri.

In Guyana, the Diwali motorcade on the West Coast and East Coast and in Georgetown brought out thousands on onlookers who cheered the floats. They were impressive sites to behold, far more beautiful and creative with magnificent lighting – far more attractive than the motorcades in New York and the concert celebrations in Manhattan or the Nagar in Trinidad. Commendations go out to the Dharmic Sabha and all others who organised the motorcades in Guyana and who planned celebrations to lighten up the country during this period.