Hindu Women’s Organisation Welcomes UNESCO Recognition Of Divali
As part of our longstanding Indo-Caribbean heritage, Divali, the Festival of Lights, is now illuminating the international platform with recent recognition given by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its contribution to Indian culture.
Divali is celebrated as one of the most popular local religious festivals, uniting communities, cultures, families and individuals across the length and breadth of India and the diaspora, and is now inscribed under the “Social practices, rituals and festive events” domain, marking the sixteenth element on UNESCO’s Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage from the Republic of India.
The President of the Hindu Women’s Organisation, Kamla Tewarie, extended her gratitude to UNESCO for this monumental honour, as she said it underscores a significant step in cultural preservation.
« I would say what it means for the Hindu community in the diaspora, in India, as our mother country. It has really added a lot to be recognised by UNESCO in that way. This was a recommendation made by the Indian government a few years ago it is now being proclaimed, so we are just happy to get that recognition. »
Mrs. Tewarie highlighted the importance of blending both Indian heritage and Caribbean identity in Divali celebrations as she reflected on the origins of Divali and the role that Divali Nagar plays in preserving the culture.
« When the indentured were here as early as 1845, when the first ship arrived, the indentured celebrated privately because they lived in barracks, and they said their prayers quietly with family, but as they got out of the barracks, they took it out to outside spaces, squares, community spaces that brought together a lot, not significantly, but others in the community who may not have been Hindus. »
In keeping youth engagement alive, Mrs. Tewarie noted that activities such as historical re-enactments, Ramleela, and bamboo art play a big role.
« Through bamboo art, youths are engaged because preceding Divali there is Ramleela, which is ‘leela’, meaning ‘story’, the story of Ram’s life on earth, and it’s played out as street theatre. It was small before with village. Now we have, I mean, big, big Ramleelas where thousands of people go. »
