The Divali Nagar serves as a vast resource for Indian Culture, according to Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Randall Mitchell.
He was at the time speaking when the 34th edition of Divali Nagar at the NCIC Nagar kicked off on Saturday. Mitchell said the work of the NCIC (the National Council of Indian Culture) has made citizens more aware of Hinduism and Indian culture, which has greatly influenced the way of life in T&T.
Mitchell also spoke on Hindu Panth, the theme for Divali Nagar 2022, which is “Let us continue to walk along a path of positivity, hope and light.”
Deokienanan Sharma, the president of the NCIC, who announced that 2022 would be his last year as head of the 50-year-old organisation, said the NCIC was delighted to be able to stage a physical Nagar following the Covid-19 pandemic. Sharma also reflected on the Nagar and its inception in 1986.
He said the inaugural Nagar’s tremendous success was not anticipated.
“The consecration of the public car park at Mid Centre Mall was a glorious event.”
Sharma said tears of joy fell from the eyes of many and the inaugural event raised a sense of pride among the East Indian community not only in T&T but wherever the diaspora had settled in the region.
Sharma added from a global diaspora of 25 million, the NCIC was also proud to have been chosen for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award from the Government of India.
The opening night of the Divali Nagar featured several local artistes including Jagdeo Phagoo, pannist Vickash Roopnarine, Satrupa Sesnarayan, Rooplal Girdharie, First Citizens Dragon Boys Tassa Group and ZeeTv Shiv Shakti Dancers.
Phagoo delivered a performance of his composition Light a Deya in Your Heart, a song that asks citizens to pray for T&T and do their part in making this country great once more. This delighted the crowd on hand.
Phagoo was a four-time finalist in the Young Kings Competition and won the Pichakaree Singing Competition hosted by the Hindu Prachar Kendra six times.
The Zee Tv Shiv Shakti Dancers also gave two dazzling performances.