Final year economics majors win UG Hindu Society Rangoli contest

Final year Economics majors came out on top when the University of Guyana Hindu Society (UGHS) held its annual Diwali Rangoli Competition on Tuesday evening at the Turkeyen Campus’ Education Lecture Theatre.

This year’s competition saw several entries, including the Daya Squad, comprising members of the UGHS, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department of Medical Imaging Technologies and the University of Guyana Economics Society.

However, their efforts were not enough to defeat the entry from the final year Economics students,

A participant adding light to the University of Guyana’s Economics Society’s Rangoli as other students view the creation. (Photo by Arian Browne)
A participant adding light to the University of Guyana’s Economics Society’s Rangoli as other students view the creation. (Photo by Arian Browne)
A final year Economics major (at left) receiving the first prize trophy for the winning Rangoli. (Photo by Arian Browne)
A final year Economics major (at left) receiving the first prize trophy for the winning Rangoli. (Photo by Arian Browne)

who won the competition. The Economics Society and Faculty of Health Sciences won second and third place, respectively. The Rangoli patterns are typically created with coloured rice, flour, and coloured sand and even flower petals but the entries in the competition all only utilised coloured rice.

The competition is an annual UGHS tradition and it is something the university and its students look forward to every year.

Participants were made aware of the competition a month in advance to ensure adequate time for planning. However, the designing of the Rangolis started around 10am on Tuesday and was completed by 5pm to accommodate the judges.

This year’s theme was, “Usher in the bliss of this season through the sparks and ignition of lights of peace, love and harmony.”

Meanwhile, a cultural presentation was also staged by the UGHS and saw students entertained by a mixture of bhajans, short dramatic presentations, dances and a fashion display.

Scores of students packed the tarmac and auditorium and were most pleased with the programme organised by President of UGHS Cheeka Paloma Kunjbeharry and chaired by student Prima Seeram. The students seemed especially fond and appreciative of a dance by Kunjbeharry, which was featured among the cultural items.

University of Guyana Hindu Society executive members performing a cultural presentation. (Photo by Arian Browne)
University of Guyana Hindu Society executive members performing a cultural presentation. (Photo by Arian Browne)

Guest speaker at the event Pandit Haresh Tiwari acknowledge the UGHS’ efforts in putting up another great programme this year. Pandit Tiwari noted, “Diwali makes us knowledgeable that there is a light to carry away the darkness in our lives and the whole objective of the season is to appreciate that light which illuminates out bodies and souls.”