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FM
Former Member

LET’S HAVE TWO HOLIDAYS FOR DIWALI 

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Ralph Ramkarran

 

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus to signify the victories of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair. These victories were achieved by the return of Lord Rama, his wife Sita and brother Lakshman from fourteen years of exile. The lights are intended to illuminate the path of their return to Ayodhya. The event provides a time to emphasize both external and internal purity, extending goodwill and undertaking religious observances, all in aid of enlightenment. Apart from Lord Rama, other deities are also worshipped.

The above is a truncated explanation of an expansive, multi-religious, multi-faceted, autumn celebration that has deep historical roots and wide religious significance for about one and a half billion people. For example, it is not only Hindus, but also Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists who celebrate Diwali. Sikhs celebrate the release from prison of Guru Hargobind and 52 princes in 1619. Jains celebrate the anniversary of Lord Mahavir’s attainment of freedom from the cycle of reincarnation as well as his teachings on compassion, justice and the promotion of social, political and economic equity. Buddhists mark the occasion as the time when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism.

The date on which Diwali is celebrated is based on a complex calculation by experts in Hinduism. (See Swami Askarananda’s letter in SN 28/10/15). South Indians and North Indians celebrate Diwali on different dates calculated in different ways. Even their spelling of the word is different – ‘Deepavali’ for South India, ‘Diwali’ for North India.  For example, 7 states or territories, 5 in South India, are celebrating on November 10 and 29 states or territories, the overwhelming majority, are celebrating on November 11.

According to internet information, which I concede is not always reliable, the majority of overseas Indians follow the Indian practices, based on whether they or their foreparents originate in North or South India. The internet puts it in a manner more understandable by lay people.

“Deepavali is celebrated in South India in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and by Indians living abroad with roots in South India. The date of calculation is based on the geographical location of Chennai (Tamil Nadu). It falls on … the lunar day before the new moon in the lunisolar calendar. Diwali is celebrated in North India and by the majority of Indians living abroad. Diwali is … in the Hindu calendar, a lunisolar calendar which is based on the positions of the moon and sun, calculated for the location of Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) in India. It falls … on the new moon night …”

Determined from different locations, Chennai and Allahabad, and one falling on ‘the lunar day before the new moon,’ the other falling ‘on the new moon night,’ it follows that there would be two different dates. In Guyana we have traditionally followed the calculation of North India from where most Guyanese originate.

In relation to this matter Minister Ramjattan, who is authorized to designate the holiday, has adopted the same firmness with the head of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Dr. Vindhya Persaud, as he has demonstrated with other matters in his portfolio. The Minister said that he took into account the views of many learned swamis and pandits and many sabhas. Dr. Persaud, in the Minister’s view, is not learned on the subject of dates, represents only one sabha and is a politician ‘pure and simple.’ His comments suggested that he gave short shrift to the substantial material and arguments submitted by her. The Minister ordered that “November the 10th it shall be.”

However, the Minister omitted to consider that the overwhelming majority of Hindus in Guyana would celebrate Diwali on the date suggested by the GHDS, which they support, regardless of the date he designates as the holiday. The Minister clearly opted for the Swami’s technical calculation based on the situation of Guyana, in conjunction with the sun and moon, according to the calendar utilised by the Swami, and has discarded what Hindus in Guyana have traditional done, namely, accept the date as calculated by North India which is embraced by GHDS, even though only a miniscule part of India is celebrating on the 10th.

The Minister might have considered the better option of placing the onus on the Hindu community and first ask it, including its largest and most popular organization, the GHDS, to agree on a date. Upon their failure to do so, he might then have considered what further steps to take, including mediation. There are others and there was time.

His imposition of a date, without taking that first step, is a most unwise decision for a government with only a 4000-vote majority. The stage is now set for an annual dispute with political overtones between the Government on the one side and the majority Hindu organization, the GHDS on the other, over the date for Diwali, when there was none before. Is this what the Government prefers?

In my investigations for this article I discovered that Delhi is listed in areas that are celebrating Diwali on both the 10th and 11th.  If indeed Delhi has two days of holidays, why can’t Guyana settle the argument by having both the 10th and 11th as holidays too? After all, Guyana has two days for Easter and two days for Christmas.

 

http://conversationtree.gy/let...holidays-for-diwali/

Replies sorted oldest to newest

has the learned Senior Counsel contemplated the ant's nest we would be digging up with the Muslim lunar holidays?

 

smh

 

that said, Boxing Day is a colonial anachronism, and should be eliminated . . . it is not a religious holiday

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Burnham give Hindus 2 National Holidays

and also give Muslims 2 National Holidays.

 

The Muslims do not have a Problem to agree and come up with a date that is acceptable to all.

 

The Hindus need to organize themselves like the Muslims to Avoid these problems.

 

The Hindus must not be Dictated by Dharmic Sabha or PPP ....

If they do......the next fight could be  to Change the Holidays to

Pandit Reep Birth Day and the day he die....

We do not think the Hindus want that.

 

The PPP and their sidekick Dharmic Sabah

must know the days when they alone decide

when is the Official Hindu holiday.....

is over since May 11th 2015.

FM
Last edited by Former Member

Mr Ramkarran is on the money.  There should be 2 Days 10 and 11 as Dewali Holiday.

 

Mr Ramkarran also proves that House Slave #2 is not only a JACKASS but also a DUNCE and n ignorant one at dat!!!!!

Nehru
Originally Posted by Jalil:

Burnham give Hindus 2 National Holidays

and also give Muslims 2 National Holidays.

 

The Muslims do not have a Problem to agree and come up with a date that is acceptable to all.

 

The Hindus need to organize themselves even if they want to Dictated by Dharmic Sabha and PPP ....and fight to Change the Holidays to Pandit Reep Birth Day and the day he die....that's acceptable if that is what the Hindus want.

But PPP and their sidekick Dharmic Sabah must know the days when they alone decide when is the Official Hindu holiday.....is over since May 11th 2015.

So Burnham is your God???  Weak, naive, pandering FOOLS will forever serve a MASTER!!!!!!!!!

Nehru
Originally Posted by Nehru:

Mr Ramkarran is on the money.  There should be 2 Days 10 and 11 as Dewali Holiday.

 

Mr Ramkarran also proves that House Slave #2 is not only a JACKASS but also a DUNCE and n ignorant one at dat!!!!!

Look at this Donkey....he and the PPP want the Two Hindu Holidays be for Dewali Celebrations ONLY.....

(1) One Day Chosen by Dharmic Saba/PPP (2) One Day Chosen by all the other Hindus In Guyana.

 

Lets hear what the Jackass will say at Phagwa when there is no Official Holiday?

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by Jalil:
Originally Posted by Nehru:

Mr Ramkarran is on the money.  There should be 2 Days 10 and 11 as Dewali Holiday.

 

Mr Ramkarran also proves that House Slave #2 is not only a JACKASS but also a DUNCE and n ignorant one at dat!!!!!

Look at this Donkey....he and the PPP want the Two Hindu Holidays be

(1) One Day Chosen by Dharmic Saba/PPP (2) One Day Chosen by all the other Hindus In Guyana.

 

Lets hear what the Jackass will say at Phagwa when there is no Official Holiday?

DUMB JACKASS, ASk someone to read Mr Ramkarran's piece and explain it to your shit head.

Nehru

Donkey .....

The Burnham Guyana Constitution say ......

Which PPP love and Cling on to for life ....

States.....

 

Every Year there will be...

TWO OFFICIAL NATIONAL HOLIDAYS

FOR HINDUS TO CELEBRATE IN GUYANA.

 

(1) Diwali

(2) Phagwa...

 

Do the Donkey Understand

if there is 2 Holidays for Diwali

 

What will they do

when Phagwa come around...

 

Remember there is only

2 Days Per Year for Hindu Holidays

in Guyana....

 

 

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:

We celebrate Christmas over two days. So what's the problem?

no, we don't

I taught we celebrate it for much more than 2 days.

FM
Originally Posted by Jalil:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:

We celebrate Christmas over two days. So what's the problem?

PPP trying to use this Holiday thing

to recover Votes lost.

Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar which places the date 2 weeks after Dec. 25.

 

that's the proper comparison!

 

should we have a Christmas holiday in January too?

 

smfh

FM
Last edited by Former Member
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Jalil:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:

We celebrate Christmas over two days. So what's the problem?

PPP trying to use this Holiday thing

to recover Votes lost.

Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar which places the date 2 weeks after Dec. 25.

 

should we have a Christmas holiday in January too?

 

smfh

We got New Year holiday for that. Christmas comes only once a year.

Mr.T
Originally Posted by Mr.T:
Originally Posted by redux:
Originally Posted by Jalil:
Originally Posted by Mr.T:

We celebrate Christmas over two days. So what's the problem?

PPP trying to use this Holiday thing

to recover Votes lost.

Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar which places the date 2 weeks after Dec. 25.

 

that's the proper comparison!

 

should we have a Christmas holiday in January too?

 

smfh

We got New Year holiday for that. Christmas comes only once a year.

actually twice . . . Jan 7 and Dec 25

 

but only Dec 25 is a holiday in Guyana

 

i hope u understand what i am trying to explicate here

FM
Last edited by Former Member

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