Minister Rambharat: The celebration of Divali has grown in national appeal

Minister Rambharat: The celebration of Divali has grown in national appeal

The celebration of Divali amonst non-Hindus has grown in national appeal particularly because of our cultural and culinary appetite for curry, roti and sweets. Such was the opinion of the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Clarence Rambharat, as he addressed staff at a Deya Lighting Ceremony which took place at the Ministry’s Head Office in Chaguanas on Tuesday 2nd November, 2021. The ceremony, which is the third of its kind to take place since the Ministry’s occupation of the premises back in 2017, was held in commemoration of Divali 2021 and involved the disbursement of boxed delicacies and refreshments (water) to some twenty (20) staff attendees.

Minister Rambharat, in thanking staff for enduring the challenges associated with planning and executing such an event amidst a pandemic, said that religious observances such as these presented a “wonderful opportunity” for colleagues and the wider public, to gather around food and activities that did not involve the consumption of meat and alcohol in particular.   

The ceremony commenced from around 5:30 p.m. with an opening prayer by the Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator the Honourable Avinash Singh, who sought from the “Divine Source of life” to be lead from ignorance to truth; from darkness to light and; from death to immortality. Also performing a cultural item was the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ms. Ramdai Sookdeo, who sang a religious song, in Hindi.

Preceding the entertainment and official deya lighting session was the delivery of greetings from the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ms. Susan Shurland, who identified with the exercise as one of the more significant cultural observances to be recognised by the Ministry in recent years. In so doing, she lauded in particular, the efforts of the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Sookdeo) and her staff, for having coordinated the activity superbly, despite the season’s inclement weather. “I think the camaraderie as demonstrated in the support and involvement of staff in today’s activity is worthy of commendation and I am heartened to witness such enthusiasm and increased participation this year,” she added.