Suruj: Divali a healing festival

Tabaquite MP Dr Surujrattan Rambachan has described Divali as a great healing festival.

Addressing guests at Divali Nagar in Chaguanas on Thursday night, Rambachan said Divali brings “ feelings of happiness, peace and the hope for prosperity and success”.

There is a special mood, he said, that descends upon the nation in which hate is replaced with forgiveness.

Continuing to praise the festival of lights, he said it is a time when families unite and communities grow in mutual respect and cultural understanding. He said, “National festivals like Divali help us to discover each other and grow in appreciation of who we are.”

He congratulated the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) on the choice of its chief guest Pundit Hardeo Persad of SWAHA.

“In a country where religious leaders and cultural activists are not given the national recognition they truly deserve, it is to the credit of the NCIC that Hindus who have distinguished themselves are recognised and appreciated,” he said.

Rambachan added that this action is in itself an important expression of the value of gratitude which Hindus are expected to practice as one of their daily sacrifices. Referring to the theme, Hindu Symbolism, Rambachan said, “Everything a Hindu does through rituals, through articles of worship have a deeper significance which can be summarized as enhancing the journey from humanity to divinity, from sorrow to eternal joy”. “Hindus understand that only through personal sacrifice and value adding actions performed for the benefit of others that one authors ones own happiness and mitigates the results of past actions,” said Rambachan.

The former government minister noted that after 172 years of East Indian indentureship, Hindus are well established and the community is resilient and growing in strength. He said despite the efforts of a few to marginalise the Hindu faith, Hindus have survived and flourished and are accepted as an equal partner in the country’s diversity.

“The strength of Hindus and Hinduism is as a result of the tenacity of our ancestors like Bhadase Sagan Maharaj, Sat Maharaj, the pundits and the thousands of Hindu volunteers who work in the temples and communities, in cultural promotion and in developing the Hindu vision.”

“TT is a beautiful country where diversity remains our greatest strength,” he declared.