THE Covid-19 pandemic has not put a damper on Divali festivities as the festival itself is much more than the dazzling array of lights – the symbolism of light over darkness.
President Paula-Mae Weekes in her Divali greetings to the nation on Wednesday, said that as citizens of every creed and race bask in the glow of thousands of deyas illuminating homes and public spaces, they will once again be reminded of the story at the core of Divali—the triumphant return of Lord Rama and his wife Sita to the village of Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.
“The jubilation of the villagers who lit earthen vessels to welcome them home is mirrored by devotees today, who celebrate by lighting not only physical lamps, but also spiritual ones which shine brightly in the face of fear, ignorance and despair,” she said.
Weekes said, “Divali motivates us to find confidence and strength to face and overcome our challenges with the knowledge that good always triumphs over ill-will. The powerful and enduring imagery of the light of the deyas piercing the surrounding darkness brings us hope and confidence that we, by our actions and attitudes, can uplift and add value to the lives of our friends, relatives, colleagues and even complete strangers. At Divali, we have a golden opportunity to strive for self-improvement and engage in critical self-analysis and reflection, even as we make meticulous preparations for the arrival of Sri Lakshmi, the principal deity of Divali, into our homes.”
And the President encouraged all citizens to do good and search out ways in which they can contribute joy to adversity, hope to despair, wisdom to ignorance, tolerance to prejudice and stability to chaos.
