THIS year’s Diwali celebration among Guyanese in New York (NY) was magnificent.  The weather was perfect for the lighting of deyas – light wind and no rain – and Hindus took advantage of the perfect weather to brighten up the night sky with their deyas and electronic lights. Indo-Guyanese and other Hindus took pride in observing the festival and lighting up outdoors.  They proudly lit their deyas outside of their homes and turned on electronic lights in the city. In addition to the celebration on Wednesday, there was a variety of Diwali-related activities over the last couple of weeks in the city. Diwali was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety the way it is done in Guyana. People used it to give thanks and pray for peace and prosperity for themselves, families, friends, relatives and their former homelands.
Although not a holiday in New York, Diwali is given official recognition with suspension of parking rules.  New York public school students were excused from attendance, although only a small number took advantage of the holiday.  City staff were also entitled to an excused day off (using a sick day) and some took advantage of it.  Those of us who struggled for Diwali recognition in the city enjoyed the day.  My friend Vassan Ramracha used to unabashedly take the day off from teaching duties on Diwali Day, and used the day to send a message to the city “that is our holiday”. He also used to encourage other teachers, like me, to take the holiday off.
Diwali is a time for giving, and Indo-Caribbean Hindus used the occasion to give generously to the poor.  They also distributed mithai to neighbours and friends, including non-Hindus.  Some of them hosted dinners for guests. During the evening, virtually all of the temples were packed with worshippers. At all of the temples, deyas lined the inner sanctum and outside of the mandirs.  Homes were also surrounded by lit deyas and lights. The festival was celebrated with gusto by most of the mandirs. Huge multi-coloured and multi-shaped deyas and other paraphernalia decorated the temples. Sweet-smelling incense and perfumes wafted in the air. The pandits held sermons to packed congregations at the mandirs in Queens. Celebrants were clad in new traditional attire: shalwars, Punjabi suits, lahengas, etc. Long lines of devotees made offerings to Goddess Lakshmi, who, according to Hindu beliefs, helps followers to overcome darkness and evil during this auspicious time. Devotees embraced friends and relatives, and exchanged greetings of ‘Shubh Diwali’.
Diwali is becoming a mainstream celebration in certain parts of Queens,The Bronx and Brooklyn, where large numbers of Hindus are settled, such as Richmond Hill, Queens Village, Jamaica, Cypress Hills, Westchester, Parkchester, etc. In neighbourhoods where Indians predominate, the exteriors of houses were decorated with lights. The sidewalks were swept clean and the lawns were immaculately kept.  Special electric lights often used during the Christmas season flickered, attracting curious onlookers. These electronic lights illuminated the interiors and exteriors of homes, lighting the dark evening sky.  A variety of decorative lights were mounted around homes, and Hindus didn’t feel odd putting on lights two months away from the Christmas season. Another piece of evidence that Diwali is becoming mainstream is that name brand grocery stores had offered a full line of Diwali-related items, including ghee and deyas. Also, several stationery stores sold Diwali cards.                     
Hindus attach special importance to the Diwali festival, making it comparable to Thanksgiving, which is celebrated by all Americans a month after Diwali; or the Christmas or Jewish Hanukah seasons, which are two months away.  But Hindus do not feel out of place about lighting flickering (associated with Christmas) lights. The use of electric lights adds to the beauty of the Diwali festival.
The media also promoted the festival.  Many of the ethnic radio and television programmes aired Diwali songs last weekend and all this week.  WICR station aired several hours of Diwali music on Tuesday and Wednesday.  And all of the ethnic weekly newspapers carried Diwali messages and greetings from many businesses.
The festival has become stronger in its public outreach. Its crowd appeal and popular extensions have increased, as was evidenced at the motorcade and concert at the Cheddi Jagan Ground.
Politicians sent out Diwali greetings to Hindus.  President Bush, Congress, governors, presidential candidates, President Obama, Prime Ministers Harper of Canada and Cameron of England, and Members of the City Council of NY issued Diwali proclamations or messages. Congress issued a Diwali message as well.