Jerome Teelucksingh
Divali is no longer restricted to India but now has a global impact, with celebrations in countries such as Mauritius, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Nepal and Bhutan. In countries such as Canada and the United States, which have sizeable Hindu diasporas, celebrations also include the lighting of deyas (diyas), sharing of food, singing, music and dancing.
In our multicultural and racially diverse society, Divali is embraced and appreciated by Hindus and most citizens. In the 21st century, thousands of baked clay deyas are sold throughout the Caribbean. Some people use deyas with wax, while others use electric lights. However, this was not always the norm. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many Divali celebrations were smaller because of unemployment and the general state of the economy.
During the indentureship era, there were few skilled potters in the Caribbean. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hindus were creative, and some made crudely constructed, handmade deyas that they baked in the sun. These deyas were often made from white clay. They were also sometimes lit in empty coconut shells.
The major newspaper in the colony of Trinidad, the Port of Spain Gazette, recorded one of the early observances in 1897: "In many parts of Trinidad, at Tunapuna especially, the Hindus celebrated their feast of Divali, and all the houses and places of business of prominent Hindus were illuminated…."
In October 1965, the Workers and Farmers Party, a local political party, called for Divali to become a national festival. In its weekly publication, We The People, the party stated: "There are no reasons why an East Indian festival should NOT become a national festival of Trinidad and Tobago" and "That aesthetically and socially Divali can be made into a national festival…."
Their concerns did not fall on deaf ears, and in 1966 the Government of Trinidad and Tobago declared Divali a public holiday.
This well-known festival celebrates the victory of Ram over Ravan and the return of Ram, Lakshman and Sita to Ayodhya. In October 2022, Anantanand Rambachan, Professor of Religion at St Olaf College, noted the relevance of the festival: "We cannot celebrate Divali as the return of Rama without being concerned about the reality of poverty, illiteracy, disease and violence in our world. If God's purpose in the world is accomplished through us and in cooperation with us, it is also true that this work requires our cooperation with each other."
One of the symbols of Divali is the lotus flower on which Mother Lakshmi stands. The lotus is a beautiful flower that faces the light while remaining rooted in murky, muddy water. Unfortunately, some of our citizens living in poverty endure a similarly murky existence and face a bleak future.
One of the themes of Divali, symbolised by the lighting of deyas, is the triumph of light over darkness. According to Hindu philosophy, Mother Lakshmi, the goddess who is venerated and worshipped, is the dispeller of darkness. Divali night is the darkest night of the Hindu month of Kartik.
Major world religions also emphasise the struggle between good and evil. This defeat of evil and darkness is not limited to the philosophical or spiritual realms. It is an ongoing, real struggle, and we need to remain vigilant against the many forms of evil in Trinidad and Tobago. Some of us have become increasingly tolerant of the darkness, while others refuse to acknowledge it. Others have accepted evil as normal.
Divali is a time for introspection. In 1975, Trevor Sudama, writing in Battlefront, highlighted the importance of Divali as the "feeling of spiritual rejuvenation which the true Hindu experiences". In 2016, Pandit Bramdeo Maharaj of the T&T Pandits Parishad believed that Divali was a time to "…be reminded that there is greater strength and power in unity". Divali should remind us of our inner light and rekindle our faith and spirituality.
In 2008, in Swaagatam magazine, Sri Vasudeva felt the message of Divali was "liberation from ignorance" and "realization of our true or spiritual Self". Similarly, in 2014, Swamini Jai Sathya wrote that during Divali we must learn the "simple method of living and discovering our inner light". Dr Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, stated that Divali was a "reminder that prosperity is not merely material wealth but a shared abundance of joy, unity, and goodwill".
Such reflections reinforce the view that we must not fear any light that shows us the paths to peace and harmony.
Across the globe, there is a troubling darkness of abortion, rape, murder, racism, addiction, illiteracy, child abuse and prostitution.
Many non-Hindus appreciate one of the major teachings of Divali: the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. However, there are some people who fear Divali and discriminate against Hindus. Such people are part of the world's darkness. That darkness must not spread. Hopefully, one day, these individuals will become enlightened and appreciate the light.
