Let go of negative attitudes and let’s work together

– Minister Henry at pre-Diwali observance

GUYANESE need to let go of negatives

and recommit to work together

in peace, love and harmony.

This sentiment was pleadingly expressed by Minister within the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, on Monday.

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry and Permanent Secretary Alfred King, among staff of the Department’s pre-Diwali celebration

She was speaking at the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport’s pre-Diwali celebration on Monday afternoon at Main Street.

Minister Henry observed that the festival’s celebration cannot be restricted to just the lighting of the lamps (yesterday, Diwali day) by the Hindus.

Rather, she said,

“Each one of us should seek

to have that spiritual light ablaze

in our hearts and our minds,

serving as a guide to our lives,

as we live each day.”

The minister, noting that light is universal to human existence, urged that as“we celebrate this festival of lights,

let us let go of all negative attitudes,

hindrances and darkness and

commit to working together in peace,

harmony and love in all we do

with our families, our work,

our environment, our government,

our country, our people

and even our world.”

Minister Nicolette Henry and PS Alfred King assisting with the lighting of diyas

But even as she urged Guyanese to reflect on the message of Diwali this year, she reminded that very soon there will be another occasion for coming together and celebration.

Speaking about Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, which will be observed next year, Minister Henry declared, “This will be an opportunity for the whole country to come together and for the whole world to look at us, and see how we have managed to build an incredibly strong country of six peoples, a very proud country, and a country where we do look out for one another, notwithstanding our differences, faiths, religions and ethnicities.”

Students of the Kuru Kuru Training Centre performing a dance at the pre-Diwali celebration

Also addressing the observance was Permanent Secretary Alfred King, who noted that Guyana is a diverse country, where culture is appreciated. He said the department has been observing cultural celebrations to highlight their significance and are part of the department’s effort at fostering “things that are most positive”.

As part of the Ministry’s celebration which saw staff participating in songs and dances, there was also the lighting of diyas (earthen lamps).

Diwali is an ancient Hindu festival, celebrated in autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) every year. It is one of the largest and brightest festivals in India.

The festival spiritually signifies the victory of good over evil,

and is celebrated to mark different historical events,

stories or myths, but they all symbolise

the victory of light over darkness,

knowledge over ignorance,

good over evil,

and hope over despair.

The celebration of the festival

includes distribution of sweets, and

illuminating the inside and outside of a house with diyas.