Diwali 2020 comes at a time when the world is searching for light amidst the darkness brought on by the deadly Coronavirus (COVID-19). It is important that we as the peoples of Guyana use our time during this festival to celebrate and seek as much light as possible while looking towards a future that will be bright and full of goodness.
Diwali is known as the Hindu Festival of Lights and accepted as the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) therefore calls on all of Guyana to celebrate the festival of lights even as we strive to rid our environs of both evil and ignorance.
The PAC has always taken initiatives that overlap with these Diwali principles. During the second half of 2020 the Commission accelerated its mission to minimize lack of knowledge of the country’s protected areas.
Articles have been widely publicized and many virtual activities were hosted, all aimed at providing the general public with information that would help them become more familiar with, and understand the importance of the protected areas for current and future generations. We also believe that our country’s protected areas provide what can be signified as some amount of light. These areas are often described and seen by many as spirit lifting and life giving.
It must also be noted too that there is heavy focus on sharing during the Diwali festival where different sweets are shared among family, neighbours and friends – this practice is fully embraced as sharing can help to promote both integration and unity among our people. The lighting of Diyas symbolizes and stresses light driving out darkness.
To all our Guyanese brothers and sisters, we say HAPPY DIWALI!
