HPI correspondent
PORT-of-SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, October 24, 2011 (HPI correspondent, Paras Ramoutar):
“In spite of the differences or race and religions, we shall learn to tolerate and respect one another and consider all human beings as children of One God and, therefore, brothers and sisters of one another. May the celebration of religions and other festivals help bring the people of all sects and classes together…” This statement from Mahatma Gandhi amply reflects this year’s Divali Nagar annually organized by the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) in Trinidad.
The President of the Council, Deokienanan Sharma, said that despite the limited State of Emergency (declared to fight widespread crime), it projects that in excess of 100,000 people visited Divali Nagar from October 16 to 25, 2011.Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar visited the Nagar before she left on Wednesday to attend the Commonwealth Prime Minister’s Conference in Perth, Australia.