President Ali urges families to keep Diwali’s inner light alive through love, unity

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has urged Guyanese to embrace the deeper message of Diwali by nurturing love, patience, spirituality and strong family values, noting that these principles are essential to building better communities and a stronger society.

The head of state delivered the message on Saturday evening at the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s annual Diwali Motorcade ceremony at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) Ground, East Coast Demerara, where thousands gathered to celebrate the festival of lights.

Addressing the gathering, President Ali encouraged families to reflect on the importance of the unseen light of spirituality, which he said should guide their decisions, behaviour and interactions with others.

He explained that this inner light is cultivated through the values taught within the home, including love, patience, respect and the proper guidance of children.

“That light in our homes and in our families can only be alive and brighter if we, as individual members of that family, nourish that light with love, with patience, teaching our children with values, with virtues,” the president said.

He also encouraged Guyanese to approach life’s challenges with understanding rather than anger and hatred, allowing their values and principles to guide their responses.

The president further reflected on the country’s diversity, pointing to the motorcade as an example of how cultural and religious celebrations can bring people together.

“The festival is bringing our people together. The festival is fusing our people together,” he said.

President Ali also paid tribute to the late Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud and the pioneers of the Dharmic Sabha, recognising their contributions to establishing and developing the motorcade into a longstanding national tradition.

Meanwhile, Minister of Human Services and Social Security and president of the Guyana Hindi Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud, encouraged families to preserve cultural practices associated with Diwali, particularly the tradition of preparing and lighting clay diyas.

She said involving children in these activities helps to pass on cultural heritage while teaching patience, identity and appreciation for the traditions inherited from previous generations.

Dr Persaud also reminded Guyanese that the festival carries a timeless message of good triumphing over evil and light overcoming darkness.

She urged citizens to reflect that message in their daily interactions by demonstrating kindness, compassion and respect, while making a conscious effort to become better individuals.

The annual Diwali Motorcade is unique to Guyana and the largest festival globally, showcasing elaborate illuminated floats, artistic displays and performances while bringing communities together in observance of the Hindu festival.

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