Row lights up over next year’s Diwali date

By News Source Guyana on November 24, 2015

Earlier this month, Diwali was observed as a holiday on November 10 although the Hindu Dharmic Sabha said it should be celebrated and observed on November 11. The Dharmic Sabha went ahead with its November 11 celebration while the official holiday was given on November 10.

Row lights up over next year’s Diwali date
Another row may be heating up between the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and the Minister of Public Security over the date for Diwali.
Earlier this month, Diwali was observed as a holiday on November 10 although the Hindu Dharmic Sabha said it should be celebrated and observed on November 11.  The Dharmic Sabha went ahead with its November 11 celebration while the official holiday was given on November 10.
Now more than a year away, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is complaining about the date for next year’s celebrations.
 
According to the body, a list of holidays for 2016 including Diwali as the 29th of October, has been released by Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan.  However, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha believes the date should be October 30, 2016.
“Once again, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha was not consulted nor involved in any discussion with the Minister of Public Security”, the statement noted.

 The body said it is disappointment at the manner in which Minister Ramjattan has declared the National holiday for Diwali 2016.

According to the statement, “as she always did, the late Angela Johnson, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security,  wrote to the Dharmic Sabha   asking for the Phagwah and Diwali dates for 2016 and these were sent to the Ministry in September 2015; Phagwah – March 23 and Diwali – October 30. This was apparently ignored”

 The religious group said it sees the latest announcement as as an act to perpetuate discord in the Hindu community by the Minister.  “We had hoped the Minister would see the wisdom in engaging the Sabha and other large Hindu bodies ( the Hare Krishna Movement, Guyana Central Arya Samaj, Maha Kali Movement) in declaring the Hindu holidays for 2016.”

The organisation explained that the religious dates  are calculated well ahead of the year “by our Pandits using the panchang and it would be prudent to engage them in a matter that has national implications unless there is no genuine desire for social cohesion”.

The Minister of Public Security has not offered a comment on the 2016 date confusion.

Related posts:

Head of Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha urges promoters to stop using phagwah to promote parties and non-religious events Government will have to set date for hearing of “No-confidence Motion” -Clerk of National Assembly Festivals like Diwali break down barriers, promote social cohesion -Pres. Granger Lots of lessons to be learnt from Diwali Festival -Pres. Granger

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