Caption: Wade Mark. Photo: T&T Parliament
ACTING President Wade Mark joined the national Hindu community in celebrating Divali on Monday, calling the Festival of Lights a reminder of enduring values, national unity, and the power of renewal.
Linking the observance to the return of Lord Rama and Mother Sita to Ayodhya, Mark said the Divali story “speaks not only of victory but also of duty, resilience and the bonds that inextricably tie families and communities together.”
He said, “At the heart of the tradition of Divali, there is a message that speaks to timeless human values… and the joy that comes from renewal and reunion.”
Mark said,“The lighting of deyas… is a reminder that even a single light can dispel darkness.”
He noted that families, businesses and public spaces would be illuminated nationwide as devotees offer prayers to Sri Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and prosperity. Those displays, he added, are a “visual expression” of the festival’s central promise “that light, in all its forms, will always triumph over darkness, and that goodness, truth and wisdom will forever overcome ignorance, evil and despair.”
He encouraged citizens to pair celebration with introspection and service. “The true essence of Divali is not only to engage in the lighting of physical lamps, but also to ensure that our spiritual ones remain radiant and well-lit,” Mark said, urging people to be “bearers of light… showing love and compassion where there is anger and resentment; sowing understanding where there is confusion; and bringing peace where there is enmity.”
Mark highlighted freedom, integrity, truth and justice as core principles “that the Hindu tradition holds sacred,” noting that such tenets, shared across faiths, guide the country’s path. In a diverse nation, he said, festivals like Divali provide joy and reverence while reaffirming the values that sustain national unity.
“In embracing the tradition of Divali, we challenge ourselves to help dispel the shadows of fear, division and indifference,” he said. “In embracing the tradition of Divali, we uplift not only ourselves, but also the society in which we live.”
As households prepare for Lakshmi’s blessings, Mark urged citizens to ready their “hearts, thoughts and actions so that they may reflect the divine light within us,” and to “go beyond mere celebration” toward personal and collective transformation.
Conveying greetings on behalf of President Christine Carla Kangaloo, O.R.T.T., and his family, Mark extended “heartfelt wishes for a happy and holy Divali celebration,” concluding, “Shubh Divali!”
