[www.inewsguyana.com] – Hindus around the world today (November 3) are celebrating Diwali – the festival of lights.
A motorcade, which commenced from Campbell Avenue, Georgetown and ended at the LBI Community Center, ushered in the event.
Message from the PPP
The People’s Progressive Party extends best wishes to all Guyanese and to the Hindu community in particular on the occasion of Diwali.
The wonderful festival of lights comes at a time this year when forces around us are trying relentlessly to slow the wheels of advancement and dim the light of hope in our nation.
Diwali which serves to illustrate that good will always triumph over evil in the long run, is a fitting message to those who are currently willing to jeopardize the economic development of our people and place stumbling blocks in our pathway in their quest to simply gain political leverage.
The light broke through in 1992 when the PPP/C won the first free and fair elections in post independent Guyana. This ushered in a new era where democracy and the rights and empowerment of our people prevail. Slowly however, those from that era of dictatorship and oppression have returned and so have their old habits in a new guise.
A return to suffering, starvation, hopelessness, large scale poverty and ultimately economic decline and desperation is not an option for our country. We have come too far as a people; we have made significant gains in gradually, painstakingly working to improve the livelihood of our people.
The journey is never complete as there is more work to be done in our efforts to place our nation on a stable economic platform and ensure each and every Guyanese benefit in a tangible way.
On this auspicious occasion, we hope that the illumination of the diyas and the added brightness from the participation of all Guyanese in this Hindu tradition will be enough to force a change in the hearts and minds of those who currently wish to see our people in a perpetual state of division and suspicion.
Message from the AFC
As we prepare to celebrate Diwali – the Festival of Lights, the Alliance For Change sends special Diwali greetings to our Hindu brothers and sisters and to all Guyanese.
The Festival of Diwali, or the Festival of Light as it is also known is of special religious significance to Hindus as it marks the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile. To welcome his return and to light his path, diyas were lit.
This year, as we light diyas and admired the light that shines brightly from such little lamps symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance let us all commit that our lives will be as lights shining forth to unmask evil, lawlessness and corruption.
Diwali is a celebration of life itself and that the lights and diyas represent hope for all humankind regardless of faith or ethnicity. Let us be the light we want to see in others and let our little light fill the world around us. Let us be the example that good will always triumph over evil.
Message from the IAC
Diwali, as we know, represents the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali reassures us that our adversities and challenges can be overcome and that we can shine in our society, no matter how dark the night is, since Diwali is the darkest night of the year.
Diwali has great impact on the lives of Hindus. It has a universal message of hope. Hope for a brighter tomorrow; when we pray, we say Dhan Dayee Namastute – Oh Universal Mother, Bless us so that we can have a more prosperous future and rid ourselves of poverty (Poverty of thoughts, intellect, wisdom etc). Maha Lakshmi which is revered at this time represents wealth, peace and prosperity, which all Guyanese share for this beautiful country. And more so, she represents motherhood and womanhood at large, that which the Hindus preserve and , cherish. Diwali is indeed a national festival for us in Guyana and Guyanese of all walks of life will participate in activities involving Diwali. 
May the divine light of Diwali shine within ourselves so that we can share more knowledge and show greater affection and compassion for each other as well as sharing that divine spark with our brothers and sisters. On this Diwali, let us continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters in our dear land and dedicate our efforts towards the progress, prosperity and peace of our nation.
