DIWALI WAS celebrated across the Guyanese communities in New York with traditional fervor and gaiety similar to celebrations in Guyana. The breezy winds did not dampen enthusiasm and the celebratory spirit of the festival as celebrants dressed up for the occasion to visit their favorite mandirs. Virtually all of the temples were packed with worshippers on Friday evening. At all of the temples, deyas lined the inner sanctum and in front of the temple.
The hundreds of thousands of Guyanese paid obeisance to Goddess Lakshmi at their homes and in the temples. The exterior of temples, homes, and businesses were decorated with fancy flickering electronic lights.  Stores were decorated pretty with party favors and various Hindu emblems. Even the Korean stores were dressed up for the occasion. Liberty Avenue, the hub of West Indian shopping, was also well lit up for the evening but devoid of shoppers.  Restaurants were empty as people enjoyed a meal at home or at the temple.  And he bars or run shops did poor business.
Appropriate bhajans blared over loud speakers from stores including the Koreans.  Sweet smelling incense wafts in the air.
Rows of lit deyas were also displayed in front of homes and businesses on Liberty Avenue, the hub of West Indian shopping in NY.
At the mandirs, the pandits held discourses late into the night.  Some mandirs had cultural variety concerts. The youths took center stage singing bhajans and Diwali songs at the Arya Samaj Mandir. A long line waited to make offerings at Tri Murthi just a few blocks away as Pt. Chunelall sang bhajans. At Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Pt. Dr. Jadonath held the audience in rapt attention. Pt. Swasti Doobay finished early at Maha Lakshmi mandir. Food and entertainment were unlimited and there was no shortage of excitement for the event. Service was also held at dozens of other temples in Jamaica, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. People clad in new attire thronged the temples and distributed sweets among friends and relatives and exchanged greetings of ‘Shubh Diwali’. In the mandirs, long lines of devotees were observed making offerings to Goddess Lakshmi.
As I drove around the Richmond Hill neighborhood, where tens of thousands of Guyanese and Trinis are settled, I saw kids braved the powerful cold winds to keep the deyas lit.  Electronic lights illuminated the interior and exterior of mandirs and homes lighting the dark evening sky.  Deyas dotted the yards.  Some families fought the gusting, swirling winds to keep their deyas lit on the outside porch and in front of the homes. Many homes had deyas on their steps and in front of the doors to their home. There were fire crackers on the sidewalks.  And passers by had a wonderful time taking on the many designs of lights and the beauty of the atmosphere.
It would be a Diwali to remember for the children who feasted on an assortment of mitai, dhal puri, seven curry, ras malai, gulab jamun and kheer.  Yes, Diwali is celebrated in NY amongst non-Hindus just as it is celebrated in Guyana with respect for the Guyanese festival of lights.