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