Dear Editor,
The criticism by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha against the staging of a show for the Diwali Pageant is unacceptable. Having a pageant showing girls displaying their saris, their beauty and giving a short speech is not degrading and immoral.
Though many pageant shows have displayed half-naked females, likewise and other vulgarity, this will not be so at the Diwali pageant. In fact the Diwali pageant was common in Guyana earlier and was organised by the Maha Sabha.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha should realize that this is a modern time. Staging the Diwali pageant will not stop females from praying, going to temples, living their sacred lives and living their normal lives.
The Dharmic Sabha must know that religion is not government by archaic laws and primitive laws which are stumbling blocks to human beings.
Come Dharmic Sabha, support the Diwali pageant.
Yours faithfully,
Baldeo Persaud
Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is against the staging of a show for the Diwali Pageant and that should be the end of the matter because they are a very high Hindu Authority in Guyana.
It is enough to admire the congregation (men AND women) carrying out their Diwali ceremonials and that should be beauty and contentment in itself.
Mention was made previously that Demerara Distilleries would be a sponsor for the Beauty Contest. Baldeo Persaud needs to reflect on this and what it implies for the religion.
Guyana has a problem with alcohol abuse so we have to choose our sponsors carefully if we want to be on the moral high ground.
Some non-Hinud bloggers have also commented previously that in the current democratic climate; women being dressed up, paraded and then given prizes (mostly by men?) may not be a politically correct arrangement.
Those bloggers may have a point.
In the 1960s, when the Maha Sabha ran the Diwali fairs and Miss Diwali contests, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud was in the thick of things, even being Master of Ceremonies at the beauty contests. I already mentioned the 1963 event, when pretty Janet Rajnarine was crowned Miss Diwali. The same Pandit Reep is now head of the Dharmic Sabha. Question: If beauty pageants were OK for Pandit Reep’s Maha Sabha over 40 years ago, why is not OK now for Pandit Reep’s Dharmic Sabha? And, I want the current agitators to name me one, just one, Miss Diwali contestant of the 1960s who morally and spiritually degraded herself by participating in the event.
The issue is not d degrading of the ladies but the denegration of the Concept of DIWALI.
The detractors seem to be sheltering under the umbrella of a pageant showcasing saris n beauty.
THAT IS NOT THE BONE OF CONTENTION.
If the word “DIWALI” can be removed then all will be well.
It is true that pandit Reep was active in the Diwali pageants of old, but that does not add credibility to the hosting of such a demeaning event in the name of Diwali.
I think more organisations should echo this opposition to a derogarotary event of the name of Diwali.
Diwali is Hinduism; Sari pagents are about Indian Culture.
There is a strong distinction.
Ironic isn’t it that it’s an Indian National with a Hindu name who is hell-bent on shoving this ‘pageant’ down our throats. Let’s face it it is a money making venture promoting the most frivolous values to our young ladies but why link it with Diwali? If the promoters feel it is so wonderful for everybody concerned respect the religious aspect and remove the name Diwali from it and hold it some other time.
I think the women who wrote this letter is making a mountain out of a mole hill, focus your energies on aspects that are more grievous in Hindu religion.
Whoever are against the Miss Diwali pageant, please shut up and mind your own damn businees. Don’t take other peoples happiness and make it your distress. First of all, the Dharmic Sabha should not be againt it, since every year they are hosting Motorcade and ofcourse they have youn girls parading and dancing on stage. And that is no big difference if you want to show off your indian wear by hosting a Diwali contest. Thank you for your precious time…