India can learn how to celebrate Divali from T&T, as evidenced by the majestic presentations at Divali Nagar, says Indian High Commissioner Shri Gauri Shankar Gupta. In his address at Divali Nagar on Friday night, Gupta said, “The people of India can emulate you with your presentations of singing, dancing and music, all of which are phenomenal. “The Divali Nagar is symbolic of Indo-Trinidad culture, and this initiative is worthy of applaud from all of us.
“It is also the culture of Indo-Caribbean culture.” Gupta said after 147 years, the Indian Diaspora has been able to fully preserve the religious and cultural practices brought from India. The Indian populace was sourced principally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the period 1845 to 1917, and they came here to enhance the agricultural capacity of the then colony of Trinidad. Approximately 148,000 East Indians crossed the Kala Pani to come here.
Gupta pointed out that the celebration of Divali has its origins in the Hindu scriptural text, the Ramayana, when Lord Rama returned to the City of Ajodhya after 14 years in exile, and the residents lighted deyas to celebrate his return home. “The message of Divali espouses good over evil, prosperity, equality, peace and love,” he noted.