BY PARAS RAMOUTAR
TRINIDAD, OCTOBER 5, 2005: Divali Nagar 2005 opens on October 23, 2005, and runs for nine days ending on October 31. Divali (Deepavali) is on November 1, according to Deokienana Sharma, president, National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC). “The Theme selected this year is ‘Vivaah, or Hindu Marriage’ which will be highlighted through an exhibition, and on the Folk Theatre and Divali Nagar main stages through songs, music, dance and drama,” Sharma said. As has become customary, Divali Nagar will be preceded by its nineteenth annual Yagya. Discourses will be on the theme marriage and related traditions as gleaned from the Holy Ramayan and other Hindu religious texts, Sharma said.
The Yagya runs for seven days commencing October 11 and ending on October 17. The discourses will include topics such as:
– T he Hindu Marriage, the Eligible Husband.
– Conflict Resolution as Taught by Rama and Sita and as Applies to Marriages Today.
– The Hindu Marriage , a Mother’s Wish for her Daughter.
– Sita Meets Anusuya, Challenges to 21st Century Relationships
– Daksha’s Sacrifice, a Father’s Anger, a Daughter’s resolve.
– The Essence of a Healthy Marriage is in the Quality of Interpersonal Communications.
At 7.00 PM on October 21, the NCIC will be presenting at the Divali Nagar a very special concert of bhajans by the world famous artistes Hari Om and Nandini Sharan. This is the final world tour of the Sharans, and Trinidad and Tobago has been selected to be part of the tour, he said. Lakshmi Puja will be conducted at 6.00 PM on the opening night of Divali Nagar and on all other nights of the Nagar.
Divali Nagar’s nightly programming will see performances by top local artistes, bhajan and folk groups, dance groups (Shree Devi, Nirvana, Clico Shiv Shakti, Sandra Sookdeo Kala mandir, Sangeet Mahavidyala) and orchestras like T&TEC Guyatones, D. Rampersad’s Indian Art Orchestra and Petrotrin’s Rangeela will be amongst the top bands of the land playing on the main stage of the Divali Nagar. In addition to local performers, the Divali Nagar will also be presenting artistes from Canada, Jamaica, Bangladesh and India, all joining to make this year’s Nagar another memorable one. Bhajans and traditional songs played by the Nada Sangam Steel Orchestra and the Tunapuna All Stars Steel Orchestra will add a distinctive Trinidadian flavour to the entertainment. “From India will be performing a Bhojpuri folk group from the state of Uttar Pradesh and four artisans will be demonstrating the art of basket weaving, papier mache, embroidery, pottery designs, etc.