Dear Editor,
Last Saturday afternoon my wife and I attended the Celebration of Naw Ruz, the start of the Bahai New Year, which also coincided with the 70th anniversary of establishment of the Bahai Local Spiritual Assembly in Georgetown. A remarkable coincidence was that it fell in the mist of the Hindu celebration of “Navratri – the nine-day worship of the Goddess Durga”, in the mist of the Christians period of Lent, and at the end of the Muslims holy period of Ramadan.
The core values of the Baha’i Faith rest on three fundamental pillars: the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, the oneness of humanity, and founded on principles of unity, peace, and justice. Values and principles urgently needed in Guyana and the wider world of which we are apart.
What I found interesting and uplifting was the number of children who, with confidence, addressed the assembled gathering, at the Headquarters in upper Charlotte Street, Georgetown. A religious organisation that has numbers of small children is one that is alive, buoyant, and with a bright future. They say that children from the cradle are the prospect for viability and sustainability, if they are brought up in the appropriate environment and with the appropriate beliefs.
The event was held in the open air, and went into the early evening, those present could not fail to observe the kindness of the Creator. The place was kept cool by the northeast trade-winds.
As the sun set to the west, the aura of harmony saturated the area where, the ladies in particular engaged in their interesting banter and recollections of bygone days. As the only male at that table I recognised that it was futile to compete with my wife and the other delightful ladies, and held fast to the wisdom of silence.
We all enjoyed the company, and the assurance that the occasion helped to strengthen our moral muscles and enhance the innate spirituality that exist in all mankind.
I use this public opportunity to thank the Baha’i of Guyana and ask them to continue their noble work, to make our world a nicer, and safer place for all.
Yours truly,
Elder Hamilton Green
