Scenes from Diwali diya lighting November 11th

Nov 12, 2015 News

While some lit their diyas on November 10 as gazetted by Government, last evening saw the majority of the Hindu community getting into the full swing for the festival of lights.
A visit last evening to communities along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) last evening saw houses with a proliferation of bright lights that were not present on Tuesday.
At some residences, occupants informed that they used as much as 500 diyas, while some complained of the high winds that were causing problems for the lighted diyas.
The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha had strongly contended that November 11th was the rightful Diwali date, a contention that was opposed by other Hindu groups.
The diya is central to Hindu philosophy, with the belief that there is something beyond the physical body and mind, called the Atman which is pure, infinite and eternal.
Lighting of the diya signifies the celebration of this inner light, in particular the knowledge that good triumphs over evil, light triumphs over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.