By Jarryl BryanThe Deepavali motorcade 2015 culminated, as it usually does, at the La Bonne Intention (LBI) community ground, where thousands were treated to music and dances and got the chance to celebrate as theirHead of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Dr. Vindhya Persaud with winners of the large category Dharmic Naujawaanfavourite mandirs were declared winners.The Dharmic Naujawaan was declared winner in the large category of floats, carrying off $350,000 and a trophy,Wholesale Jerseys Paypal, while in the small category the Bath Shri Krishna Mandir was declared the winner. This Mandir received $250,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping,000 in addition to a trophy.The Success Mandir won the Andrew Arts trophy for overall best designed float. The Dharmic Naujawaan won the most creative Mandir – large category, while the Bath Shri Mandir won the small category for being the most creative.The judging was done by former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony,Authentic Kyle Korver Hawks Jersey, Deo Persaud,Andrew Franks Dolphins Jersey, Pradeep Samtani, Seepersaud Chatterdeo and Harry Parmesar.Speaking with Kaieteur News after the announcement of the winners, Guyana Hindu Dharmic head, Parliamentarian Dr. Vindhya Persaud expressed satisfaction at the crowds which turned out to see the motorcade.“It’s a 42-year-old tradition (local motorcade),Wholesale China Jerseys,” Persaud said. “We’ve had the most floats ever, 28. As many as six floats came from Berbice. We also had floats from West Coast, East Coast and Georgetown.”She noted that when the masses came out for the motorcade it served to unify Guyanese at the family and community level. She observed that the lighting of diyas served to symbolize the divinity within everyone and thus that divinity is shared.Two datesHowever, along East Bank Demerara (EBD), as far as Herstelling, the most recognizable feature of the Diwali celebration was conspicuously absent – the diya. The marked absence of diyas was also observed along the East Coast Demerara.Leading up to the Diwali motorcade, there was much controversy over the official date. While the Ministry of Public security gazetted the date as November 10, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic had contended that Diwali should fall on November 11.Persaud noted that the matter could have been handled better and there should have been more broad-based consultations. She said that if the largest single Hindu organization could be ignored, then Government was not serious about cohesiveness.“I think that’s gone,” she observed. “It was unfortunate and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has always maintained a dignified approach to it. We would have communicated our concern to the Minister (of Public Security) and we were ignored.”“We did send a petition and we did not receive the courtesy of a response. That included some 4000 signatures and included in those signatures were pandits and religious devotees, countrywide. Some 150 Mandirs signed on and were joined by the Guyana Arya Sabha, the Hare Krishna movement.”While the celebrations surrounding the motorcade were certainly grand, Kaieteur News understands that as much as eighty percent of the country did not turn out.CelebrationsDiwali, derived from the Sanskrit “Deepavali” or “row of lights”, is normally celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. Coinciding with the Hindu New Year, it celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.Houses are usually decorated with diyas and candles. There are also colorful displays and feasts, as well as pujas (prayers) to the Goddess Lakshmi and house decorations with colorful rangoli art work– coloured rice or/and powder.Though the festival can extend for days,Nike NFL Jerseys China, the main festival night of Diwali is traditionally celebrated on the festival’s darkest, new moon night as determined by the Hindu lunisolar month. Thus, the festival normally falls between the middle of October and November.Originally observed on the sub-continent, the festival is widely celebrated by the East Indian Diaspora community. The fireworks, decorations, elaborate costumes and displays have also made it a popular attraction for non-Hindus.The festival is sometimes associated with Lord Rama and his wife, Sita, returning from exile to their kingdom in northern India after defeating the demon king, Ravanna, in 15th century BC. It is also associated with the legend of Yama and Nachiketa on Diwali night.The fireworks displays usually go towards remembering the celebrations which, according to legend, took place upon