Divali’s special light

All over the country, Hindus and non-Hindus alike will mark the occasion by lighting deyas, hanging colourful streamers, and decorating premises with balloons and festive fabrics

This country, land of Carnival, steelband, tassa, soca and chutney, is the same country that has given the world a truly unique version of this annual religious festival

Divali is today Trinidad’s second largest open-air festival, second only to our Carnival revelry

Yet, the tenor of Divali is a far cry from the ribaldry of the Merry Monarch. It is one of quiet reflection balanced with some festive exuberance

People reflect on the year that has passed, while celebrating with their loved ones

Divali is a reminder of our diversity

In Trinidad and Tobago, Hindus comprise the second-largest religious group (24 per cent), following members of the Roman Catholic faith. But members of all faiths identify with today’s message of the triumph of knowledge over ignorance, good over evil

This year’s observances come ahead of next year’s 100th anniversary of the abolition of East Indian indentureship

That is an important milestone to recognise especially at a time where the impact of the past on the present is currently subject to much discussion, such as the controversy surrounding an ill-judged Carnival presentation

How well have we studied the impact of indentureship on our society? As with emancipation and the slave trade, more work needs to be done to assess the inter-generational impact of matters which, while long past, still have bearing on the fabric of our society

We in Trinidad and Tobago can, however, stand proud of the fact that we have existed as a diverse people with much harmony. Unlike other countries, we have not been plagued with ethnic violence or civil war. Despite occasional tensions and often mindless rhetoric by the people in charge, we are very successful as a cosmopolitan society. This is a country where Hindu figures such as Sat Maharaj and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley can sit down to luncheon even when disagreeing on matters of State policy

“In this country, we are fortunate to fellowship together and while we may not be perfect, we do very well in living and prospering together,” Rowley said this week. “Even with our divisions of ethnicity, race, religion and geography, the rest of the world does not live as we do in TT.” However, the value of Divali is not only in its philanthropic message

Divali is integral to our economic sustainability as a country

The season is an important one for traders in a wide range of sectors

Not only this, but some of the activities around Divali are integral to our tourism product. It is in the State’s interest that these activities be furthered

This year, Maharaj has expressed disappointment in a $1.8 million funding allocation to Hindu organisations

However, while it makes business sense for the State to support Divali, it is also integral that all cultural organisations seek to become self-sustainable. No doubt this is a discussion that must continue

Meanwhile it is good to see appreciation for events such as Ramleela by State officials like President Anthony Carmona

Beleaguered as he is these days, Carmona found time to remind us that Ramleela was “one of the oldest manifestations of open-air street theatre in the Americas.” The communal spirit of Ramleela is itself a microcosm for so much of the cultural life in Trinidad and Tobago which we often take for granted

Today let us not take that life for granted and let us embrace one another in the spirit of the season