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-by Kyler Rollins
Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, brightened the streets of Berbice on Sunday evening as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha hosted its annual motorcade, bringing together members of the Hindu community in a vibrant celebration of faith, culture and tradition.
Devotees from several praants gathered at locations across Berbice, including the Rose Hall Estate Community Centre Ground in Region Six and the Bath Community Centre Ground in Region Five, to celebrate Diwali.
Motorcades featuring representations of Goddess Lakshmi took centre stage, complemented by cultural performances, including traditional dances, singing and musical presentations, showcasing the richness of Hindu faith and heritage.
Joining the celebrations was President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who urged devotees to embrace the deeper meaning of Diwali and carry its message into their daily lives.
“Let us always strive in our own lives to dispel darkness, to eradicate negativity in our own thinking and to remove anything that can cloud our judgement and bring forth an environment that can be construed as not positive,” she said.
Dr. Persaud, who also serves as Minister of Human Services and Social Security, encouraged Hindus to revive the tradition of lighting clay diyas on Diwali night, rather than relying solely on electric candles.
She also commended the participation of children in the motorcade, noting that the experience would leave lasting memories.
“It’s a memory they will take with them throughout life and sitting on the motorcade representing Maha Lakshmi, it is also embodying those qualities that a child will be motivated to carry with him or herself,” she said.
The floats, which took weeks to construct, represented various Mandirs across Berbice, showcasing the creativity and devotion of the participating communities.
Diwali 2026 will be observed on November 8, with families expected to mark the occasion by lighting diyas, sharing traditional sweets and celebrating the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
