Dear Editor,
It is with great horror that we the undersigned Hindu women have viewed the news of the resuscitation of the Diwali Pageant. For years, we have protested against the hosting of an event that desecrated Sanatana Dharma and was sacrilegious to a sacred Hindu occasion. Promoters eventually realised that what they were doing was offending the sentiments of Hindus.
That some people have decided to form a National Diwali Committee and have made the hosting of a Diwali Pageant their main agenda on the auspicious occasion of Deepavali is very disturbing.
The mere fact that all that they can see relevant in the observation of a sacred Hindu occasion is a Sari Pageant makes one wonder as to the qualification/knowledge of these individuals with regards to Sanatana Dharma and what is their true motive.
Geeta Singh stated that the pageant is about learning to wear a Sari and applying make up—how does this apply to Deepavali? Is this how Geeta Singh practises Sanatana Dharma—wear a Sari and apply proper make up??
How can any Hindu with a modicum of any knowledge of Sanatana Dharma associate an occasion that honours and revere The Divine Mother with a Beauty Pageant?
Parmanand Sukhu stated that the Diwali Pageant promotes Indian Culture—what does this have to do with Hinduism? Indian culture is not Hindu culture alone because there are also Muslim, Christian, Parsi cultures that exist within Indian Culture.
Why not have a Sari Pageant then at some other time of the year. Why associate a Sari/Beauty Pageant with The Sacred Festival of Deepavali?
Deepavali is a sacred occasion where we worship Maha Lakshmi—the Goddess of Light/ Know-ledge/Wealth/Prosperity. Maha Lakshmi is not a Goddess of beauty for there to be a beauty pageant in Her Honour! In Sanatana Dharma, women are not revered for beauty—there are some very ferocious forms of The Divine Mother. So why has the National Diwali Committee, Parmanand Sukhu, Geeta Singh, et al, associating a Sari/Beauty Pageant with the occasion that honours Maha Lakshmi?
For the information of those who seem to be in need of knowledge of what Deepavali is—there are 5 days of observances for Deepavali.
1.Dhan Teras—worship of Maha Lakshmi as Dhanwantari where She is worshipped as the Goddess of Wealth alone—here one diya is lit on this evening —-Sunday 26th October
2. Narak Chaturdasi—the destruction of the demon Narkasura by Bhagwaan Sri Krsna—this is called Choti Deepavali as 5 diyas are lit on this night—Monday 27th October.
3. Deepavali—Maha Lakshmi Puja. We do puja to Maha Lakshmi in all her aspects—Wealth/ Knowledge/Light/Prosperity—then light as many diyas as possible asking Her —
Tamaso Ma Jyotri Gamaya—lead us O Mother, from darkness to light. Tuesday 28th October.
4.Goberdhan Puja—the day when Bhagwaan Sri Krsna lifted the Goberdhan mountain to save the people of Braja.
5.Bhai duja—-the day when Hindu brothers and sisters renew their sacred relationship—this is a strictly Brothers and Sisters day that was first observed by Yama Deva when He visited His Sister Yamuna Devi.
That Banks DIH and Polar Beer are sponsoring this event is proof that the National Diwali Committee does not care at all about Sanatana Dharma. The IAC— a cultural organisation does not allow alcoholic beverages at their Melas—how then can any beer be allowed at a programme organised by The National Diwali Committee?
In closing, we would like to draw the attention of the Companies supporting this event—Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Banks DIH, Polar Commodities, King’s Jewellery, Steve’s Jewellery, Gizmos and Gadgets —what you are doing is supporting a programme that desecrates a sacred Hindu occasion.
Yours faithfully,
Nanda Sahadeo
Prettima Sitaram
Hema Budhu
Amrita Singh
Sedhee Ramnath
Seeta Samaroo
Some solutions
- withhold spending money at those companies supporting this
- get the govt to pass laws against this
- protest and block the roads against this
Nanda Sahadeo, Prettima Sitaram, Hema Budhu, Amrita Singh, Sedhee Ramnath, Seeta Samaroo are washing some ‘dirty laundry’ here in public and perhaps this is not the best way to resolve the matter.
The points raised by the writers are quite relevant for sure, but Stabroek News’ pages are a generalised forum and this matter could better be resolved by going to the highest Hindu authority in Guyana and if that has still not resolved the issue, then I suggest approaching one of Guyana’s greatest spiritual leaders, namely, Dr Satish Prakash, PhD., Vyakaranacharya.
He is the Founder and Executive Director of Maharishi Dayananda Gurukula, NA, Inc and can be reached at:
satishprakash@yahoo.com
Corporate sponsorship for celebrating Deepavali is a superb idea and after the correct guidance is sought for a more generalised, less overtly sexual celebration; then the corporate sponsors should be petitioned with full names and addresses on the petition to bring pressure to bear on those who may knowing/unknowingly bring scandal to what is in fact a quite beautiful occasion for celebration.
I would say GOOD LUCK to the writers in trying to resolve what is in fact a recurring theme of disagreement for very many years.
Use Dr in front or PhD at back. To use both is redundancy. He not MD, so no prablem deh.
dont bad mouth these young people.guide them to be sucessful in their effort.
I was enlightened about the 5 days of observance of diwali. I am against beauty shows of any kind and for any reason. I am not of indian descent or hindu, but I cherish the fact that I was born in multi-cultural, multi-racial Guyana. Maybe this new association can celebrate diwali by enlightening non-hindus about the meaning of this religious event. That can only bring tolerance and understanding among people. I truly cannot imagine what would be the value of having pretty girls judged like pieces of meat.
I hope this pageant gets no support from hindus and non-hindus alike.
This is a total disgrace to the entire Hindu society if they continue with the pageant and total disrespect to the sentiments of the Hindu religion. If they want to raise money, another day should be put aside for such…and another tag name should be given. Soon everything will be a pageant…look out for EID and Christmas pageants….if the other religions allow these people to walk all over and disrespect them. All Hindus as well as non-Hindus should go against this hideous act. The Hindu community has allowed these miscreants to get away with so much…whether it’s fear of victimization or whatever the reason being. It is wonderful now that the Hindu women have come to their senses and realized that the Religion and culture is heading no where if such sinful events are carried out by these sinful, deceitful and uncultured people.
who is the “entire hindu community” and who gives you the right to speak on behalf of us? Read the letters and realise you’re in the minority bro..most of us look forward to the pageant..[as our attendance to the pageant will reveal]
SN ,, it would appear to me ,, by the “axeing ” of my comments on this distasteful
menu of ,, of what is now the “diwali diatribe”,, that u somehow r in favour of the scarilege perpetuated by this blasphemy by those whose objective is self aggrandisement !……
this disgraceful “pageant” which is the key word in the “con” by those whose imagination that some how beauty in “shimmering saris ” is the climax to a sacred display of worshiping “light ” is that of a very small mind / s
I do not know. Why not ask the pagent sponsors why they are doing it?
Caesar. beef na get bone, daag na bis-nissssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the girls gotta model relax yourself…
I would think that the link is obvious – the Sari is regarded as an Indian outfit and the festival originated in that part of the globe. As such, the festival time is opportune for such a pageant (if one is so inclined to have one) as people are in that cultural sphere of influence and are attuned to the occasion.
As I pointed out in a letter in SN that dealt with the very issue, there may be Hindus out there who are supportive of this event. The anti movement may just be a vocal minority….Geeta Singh and Parmanand Sukhu are obviously Hindus. Who makes these self proclaimed individuals of the anti camp the definitive spokespersons of Hindus?
I would just like to reiterate that Guyana has much more pressing issues that need to be dealt with – this puritanical angst can only lead to intolerance.
The festival organisers can be gallant and remove the name Diwali from their pageant but no one should be able to demand that they should not this pageant nor should they be able to coerce companies in no supporting the event. They are entitled to voice their displeasure and that is all…..no demands!
since i was a boy i know there was a diwali pageant associated with diwali. where were these women then? how come suddenly it has become a shame on the hindu community? as a hindu i am very concerned about fundamentalists trying to hijack the hindu religion.
Shame on all women who patrol on a stage to showcase their body, be it for a Dewali or any form of beauty pageant.