Sunday Magazine November 4, 2018

November 4, 2018

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Feature

D

eepawali, Deepavali, or Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals.

It is the Festival of Lights: deep means "light" and avali "a row" to become "a row of lights". Diwali is marked by five days of celebration, which literally illuminates

the country with brilliance and dazzles people with joy.

The Diwali festival occurs in late October or early November. It falls on the 15th day of the lunar Hindu month of Kartik, so it varies every year. Each of the five days in the festival of Diwali is marked with a different tradition. What remains constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment, and a sense of goodness.

Historically, Diwali can be traced back to ancient

India. It most likely began as an important harvest festival. However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali. Some believe it to be a celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, to Lord Vishnu. Others use it as a celebration of her birth-

day, as Lakshmi is said to have been born on the newmoon day of Kartik.

Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama (along with Ma Sita and Lakshman) from his 14year exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and set off firecrackers.

Each day of Diwali has its own tale to tell. The first day of the festival, Naraka Chaturdasi, marks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife, Satyabhama.

Amavasya, the second day of Diwali, marks the worship of Lakshmi when

she is in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees.

Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who, in his dwarf incarnation, vanquished the tyrant Bali and banished him to hell. Bali is allowed to return to earth once a year to light millions of lamps and dispel darkness and ignorance while spreading the radiance of love and wisdom.

It is on the third day of Diwali, Kartika Shudda

Padyami, that Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj), and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

Some people refer to Diwali as a five-day festival because they include the festival of Dhanteras (dhan meaning "wealth" and teras meaning "13th"). This celebration of wealth and prosperity occurs two days before the Festival of Lights.

The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband, Lord Shiva. She decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year.

All of the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story behind them.

Homes are illuminated with lights, and firecrackers fill the skies as an expression of respect to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace, and prosperity.

The spiritual significance of Diwali

Beyond the lights, gambling, and fun, Diwali is also a time to reflect on life and make changes for the upcoming year. With that, there are a number of customs that revellers hold dear each year.

Give and forgive. It is

common practice that people forget and forgive the wrongs done by others during Diwali. There is an air of freedom, festivity, and friendliness everywhere.

Rise and shine.

Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta (at 4 am, or 1 1/2 hours before sunrise) is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work, and spiritual advancement. The sages who instituted this Diwali custom may have hoped that their descendants would realise its benefits and make it a regular habit in their lives.

Unite and unify. Diwali is a unifying event, and it can soften even the hardest of hearts. It is a time when people mingle about in joy and embrace one another.

Prosper and progress.

On this day, Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. People buy new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes for their employees. Homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with diyas. The best and finest illuminations can be seen in Bombay and Amritsar. The famous Golden Temple at Amritsar is lit in the evening with thousands of lamps.

This Festival instils charity in the hearts of people, who perform good deeds.

This includes Govardhan

Puja, a celebration by Vaishnavites on the fourth day of Diwali. On this day, they feed the poor on an incredible scale.

Illuminate your inner self. The lights of Diwali also signify a time of inner illumination. Hindus believe that the light of lights is the one that steadily shines in the chamber of the heart.

Sitting quietly and fixing the mind on this supreme light illuminates the soul.

It is an opportunity to cultivate and enjoy eternal bliss.

From darkness unto light...

In each legend, myth, and story of Diwali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil. It is with each Diwali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts that this simple truth finds new reason and hope.

From darkness unto light – the light empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds and brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of firecrackers, joy, togetherness, and hope.

Diwali is celebrated around the globe. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light, and illuminate the soul. (Patil, SM. "Diwali: Festival of Lights Light Up Your Life)

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine

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Feature

By Lakhram Bhagirat

O

n what is described as the darkest night in the year, Hindus celebrate the auspicious occasion of Diwali, and the epic that goes with this festival states that it was the night Shree Ram, along with his wife, Sita, and brother Lakshman returned home to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile. It goes on to say that as the people in the Kingdom of Ayodhya prepared for the arrival of their beloved Shree Ram, they lit the pathways with little earthen lamps so as to illuminate the dark path to the palace.

That is the story I have been hearing for the past 26 years, every Diwali, and the memories associated with the festival are some of my most cherished. As a child and well into my adolescent years, I would go to the side of the trench and collecting mud (clay) and rolling it in some sand (for what reason I don’t know) and then sitting beside my grandmother as she demonstrated how to make the perfect diya to light later that night.

Every Diwali morning, my grandmother, Margaret, would sit with her bucket of mud and make her diyas to light. We would sit with her, but rather than being helpful, we would create a ruckus, which often resulted in us being shooed away. But no matter how much she shooed us away, we would look at how effortlessly she would shape and smooth those little masterpieces.

She was a hero and the best diya maker we had ever known. As we grew up, we would sit with her and make our own versions of diyas and leave them out to bake in the sun for the day while we went ahead helping mommy prepare the sweetmeats and treats for the feast later in the night.

While she was alive, my grandmother would usually make about 10 mud diyas which she would place at the altar in her house, at the bridge and at the Shiva Mandir in the yard. She would always say that those were the most important places as we pray for our homes to be blessed with the presence of Shree Ram. Not a year would go by without us having at least three such diyas every Diwali.

We relished making them and getting the finest mud as well as vying for grandma’s approval. No matter how many cracks

we had in our diyas or how deformed they were she always gave us a thumbs up for effort and would reluctantly allow us to light them later in the evenings a l o n g with others. Those are the memories about Diwali I treasure to this day.

Most people, in my area, would use store-bought clay diyas for Diwali and just dispose of them the day after in the trench as they would dissolve over time. That is also practised by my family since the task of making mud diyas is considered tedious. However, in my village, there was one particular household that used only mud diyas when it was Diwali.

It was located a few yards away from where I live and as a child, I used to be mesmerised by the sight of Uncle Bango sitting under the cashew tree at the front of his yard for hours rolling mud and shaping them into the most perfect diyas.

As times progressed and development became rapid in my community, we lost that tradition. Now when it is Diwali, everyone goes to the supermarket and buys the clay diyas and pre-rolled cotton wicks and just lights away. Another thing that is becoming popular is the wax diyas which reduce the mess of using the coconut oil or ghee to light diyas.

As for my family, after my grandmother died in 2011, no one had the courage to make mud diyas and now we just do not do it anymore. I am also not sure when Uncle Bango stopped making his diyas at the front of his yard, but for the past two Diwalis, I have not seen him doing that.

However, I am told that there are certain parts of Guyana where the Hindu community has not lost the tradition of making the little earthen lamps and for that I am happy. Those little lamps signify so much.

They have the ability to instantly shed light and brighten where they are placed.

Maybe, this year, I would make a few of those diyas in honour of my grandmother.

After being unable to find an image of a mud diya online, I went home and made one so here it is.

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Sunday Times Magazine

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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Feature

I

n the early days, we would see women with their brooms, buckets and cloths perched on ladders or tables stretching to reach every nook and cranny of their houses to ensure that it is cleaned to perfection, as they prepare for the arrival of Ma Lakshmi. It is believed that the goddess of wealth visits every home that is illuminated with little oil lamps on what is believed to be the darkest night of the year.

The festival of Diwali is one that is mostanticipated by the Hindu community, since it is a time for reflection and shining light on the darkness in their lives. It is a time when they are at their most forgiving and it signals the start of a lot of new things. In some cases, even new traditions.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, change is the law of the universe and we have indeed seen change as the only constant when it comes to how we celebrate the Festival of Lights. In the earlier days, there was a certain level of community when it comes to the celebration. Everyone would come together and chip in to make the celebration one that was for all.

As time changed so did society. Today, we see the disintegration of the level of community when it comes to certain aspects of Diwali. Back then, it was taboo to say that

you are going to buy all your sweets and savoury snacks from a caterer or restaurant as opposed to labouring all day preparing them. Of course, back then, very few women had full-time jobs and those things were expected of them.

But as time progressed, expectations dropped and now, it is perfectly fine to have a caterer cater to the needs of you and your family.

Over the years, people have found their own reasons to make Diwali unique.

Traditional celebrations would entail laborious cleaning of the house weeks in advance, lavish preparations including sweets and savouries, and the purchase of new clothes for the family. In the days gone by, people would do most things themselves, and little was left to purchase. Other than the clothes, ladies preferred completing all other arrangements at home.

Sweets were prepared at home by the ladies, the cleaning was done with the help of the men, and the arrangements were made with the children. While we know Diwali as a time to greet everyone and share special moments, the build-up to Diwali was special in the early days. Men would gather together weeks in advance to find ways to make Diwali special. Ladies would work together

to make sweets and food, making this truly a community occasion.

The Hindu community, particularly, has changed the way in which they celebrate Diwali now. There was a time when the only lights that illuminated the yards and homes of Hindus were those of the little earthen lamps powered by coconut oil or ghee. But now the scenes are different with houses elaborately wrapped in fairy lights twinkling away without the threat of being doused by the wind. We are seeing fewer diyas being lighted to illuminate the pathways and more ornamental lighting taking centre stage.

Also, one of the biggest changes, in the Guyanese context, is the virtual disappearance of the little mud diyas that were usually made on Deepavali day or the day before and left in the sun to bake. They are hard to find in homes since it is much easier to pick up some clay diyas from the supermarket.

Despite all the changes, Diwali still remains relevant in today’s society, because it fosters unbreakable bonds and reignite the camaraderie and togetherness in us. So go out there and light a diya, despite your religious beliefs, and illuminate your heart so there is space for more people in it.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

G

u y a n a is one of the most unique countries in the world: it is a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures, but it is also a place where everyone despite religious beliefs partakes in the celebrations of others. That is what truly makes Guyana a unique place and we see the true realisation of motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny� whenever there is a religious festival.

It does not matter whether the Muslim community is celebrating Eid, the Christian, Christmas or Hindu, Holi, you are sure to see Guyanese from all walks of like decked on in their appropriate outfits enjoying whatever the cel-

ebration has to offer.

One such festival that has been fostering cohesiveness since time immemorial is the festival of Diwali or the Festival of Lights as it is referred to. Diwali is among the most celebrated of all Hindu observances. Elaborate and lavish, this holiday is enjoyed by all strata of society. This is a festival eagerly awaited by each member of the family, whether young or old, and is equally enjoyed by all.

Diwali has a varied relevance to each person, but what remains common about the festival is the fact that it brings joy, peace and happiness. This is perhaps the only occasion where everyone comes together with-

times.

According to ancient epics, the celebration of Diwali began when Lord Rama was welcomed back into his kingdom of Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana.

The lighting of lamps in his honour, cleaning out of

out inhibition. It is also among the few Hindu festivals where people of all faiths come together in celebration. Diwali has a deeprooted tradition and is very rich in significance. What has perhaps made Diwali as special as it is today is the fact that its genesis has been traced back to ancient

homes and grand decorations were apparent all over the city, and the bright illumination of Ayodhya is what gave Diwali most of its character. Diwali is still considered today the Festival of Lights, and not without perfect reason.

If you are to examine the fabric of the Guyanese society you would see that Guyanese from all walks of life would visit their Hindu friends on this night and indulge in the delicious sweetmeats and the lighting of the symbolic diyas. You would find them lining the streets adoring the wonderfully decorated homes and yards lined with diyas with their flames swaying in the rhythm of the night breeze.

It is a day when race and religion are forgotten and perfect strangers become friends. It is a night where people call strangers off the road and have them indulge in the festivities. It is a truly remarkable sight, and a gesture that makes a lot of people happy beyond bound-

aries.

It is believed that charity starts begins at home, and on Diwali Day those who gives charity get eternal bliss and salvation. It also ensured that no family was burdened, and that no family was excluded from celebrations either. This was, in some way, the real spirit of Diwali, which was a time for bonding, and spreading sweetness.

Diwali was special in the

early days. Men would gather together weeks in advance to find ways to make Diwali special. Ladies would work together to make sweets and food, making this truly a community occasion.

The level of camaraderie when it comes to celebrating festivals in Guyana is unbeatable. We Guyanese are truly unique irrespective of our beliefs. Shubh Deepavali.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Feature

O

ne of the things that make Guyanese, particularly the Hindu community, distinctive when it comes to celebrating the Festival of Lights is not the brightly illuminated yards and houses or the bursting of elaborate fireworks, rather it is something as simple as the annual Diwali Motorcade.

You can travel the entire world and would never witness such a spectacle as that organised by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) as part of its annual Diwali Motorcade. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on November 6 and the series of countrywide motorcades has already begun.

We can expect to see people of all walks of life as well as different nationalities enjoying the scenes of the brightly lit floats all sending a message that goes hand in hand with the significance of the Diwali festival.

Thousands of people would line the streets along the routes the Motorcade would take and also pack the converging sites as they

experience the cultural explosion organised by the GHDS. The Motorcade is now entrenched in our traditions since it has been around for almost 45 years now. Like the celebration of Diwali, the Motorcade has evolved over the years with more floats taking part, all trying to outshine the other. The preparation that goes into hosting the countrywide motorcade is nothing short of herculean, since some mandirs and organisations would start making their floats months prior to the date of the Motorcade.

The common theme portrayed is that of the return of Lord Rama along with Ma Sita and Lakshmana to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile or that of Maa Lakshmi seated on the lotus flower showering her blessings on the world. She is the representation of wealth and prosperity, and it is believed that when worshipped on Diwali Day, a prosperous life is guaranteed.

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NOVEMBER 4 , 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

R

angoli is an art form, originating in the Indian subcontinent, in which patterns are created on the floor or the ground using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals. It is usually made during Diwali or Tihar, Onam, Pongal and other Hindu festivals in the India. Designs are passed from one generation to the next, keeping both the art form and the tradition alive.

Rangoli is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘rangavalli’ which means colour. The purpose of rangoli is decoration, and it is thought to bring good luck. Design depictions may also vary as they reflect traditions, folklore, and practices that are unique to each area. It is traditionally done by girls or women.

Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, or flower and petal shapes (appropriate for the given celebrations), but they can also be very elaborate designs crafted by numerous people. The base material is usually dry or wet powdered rice or dry flour, to which sindoor (vermilion), haldi (turmeric) and other natural colours can be added. Chemical colors are a modern variation. Other materials include colored sand, red brick powder and even flowers and petals, as in the case of flower rangolis. Here are some simple designs for you to try out.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018

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Fashion

Lehendga Choli

A

n important part of the Hindu celebration of Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is to dress according to the various traditions. The festivities during Diwali are marked by vibrant colors, as well as the themes of light and illumination, so wear clothes that reflect the joy and excitement of this 5-day celebration. Most people at Diwali wear a lot of jewellry, henna paint, and in tradition people go out and buy new clothes specifically for Diwali.

Before dressing in these new clothes that you have bought, you must have a bath and cleanse your skin, washing away all the evil in your life. Most clothing for Diwali is brightly coloured because it will reflect the light and illumination, which is the whole theme of Diwali. So here are some of the vibrantly coloured pieces you can purchase for your Diwali celebration.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Home & Cooking

• • • • • • • • •

Ingredients:

• 1½ liters Milk (full fat) • 2½ tablespoons Sugar • 1/2 teaspoon Green Cardamom Powder • 10 Almonds sliced • 5-7 strands Saffron • 10 Pistachio, sliced

• • • • • • •

Ingredients: 1 cup Sugar 3 Green Cardamom pods 1 1/2 cups Water 2 cups Milk Powder 1/2 cup all purpose flour One pinch baking poweder 4 tablespoons Ghee 1/4 cup Milk Oil or Ghee, for deep frying

Ingredients

2 Cup Besan (Chickpea Flour) 1/2 Cup Fine Sugar 8 Tbsp Ghee (Clarified Butter) 4 Tbsp Milk 1/2 Tsp Cardamom Powder 6 Almonds - made into flour 1 Tbsp Oil – To be used on hands

Directions 1. In a pot add water, sugar, cardamom pods and bring to a boil until 1/2 string consistency. (About 8-10 minutes on high heat). Let cool.

2. In a bowl mix milk powder, flour, baking powder and ghee. Use fingers to evenly distribute ghee while gradually adding liquid milk. Mixture should be soft and sticky. Do not over mix or knead mixture.

3. Grease palms with oil/ghee and roll into smooth balls. There should be no cracks.

4. Heat oil/gee and on low heat fry jamun until dark brown. Drain oil/ ghee and soak in cooled sugar syrup, preferably overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Ingredients *For the Dough 4 cups flour 1 tsp white sugar 2 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 cup freshly grated

• • • • coconut • 1 1/2 sticks butter, chopped • 3 tsp anise seed

• 1 12oz tin evaporated milk Vegetable or canola oil for frying *For the sugar syrup: • 1 cup white granulated sugar • 3/4 cup water • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Directions

Directions

1. Boil milk in a broad, heavy based, pan or broad non-stick pan over medium flame.

2. When milk starts to boil, reduce flame to low. Stir at regular intervals of 3-4 minutes but not continuously. When layer of a cream appears on the surface, shift it towards the side of a pan. Do the same process for next cream layers. Cook until milk is reduced to 1/3 of original quantity.

3. Add sugar and stir to dissolve it. Add cardamom powder, sliced almonds, saffron strands and sliced pistachio; mix well.

4. Scrape small cream chunks collected on the side of pan into milk (this will make delicious small cream chunks in rabdi).

Cook for 2 minutes and turn off flame. Let it return to room temperature naturally.

Refrigerate it for at least 2 hours before serving.

5. Transfer prepared sweet kesar rabri in serving bowl and garnish with sliced almonds. Serve chilled.

1. In a microwavable bowl, add besan along with 3 tbsp of ghee, mix evenly and microwave on high for 2 minutes.

2. Stir the besan mixture using a spatula and microwave on high for 2 minutes.

3. By now, the mixture would have turned slightly brown or deeper in color and a rich aroma of ghee 4. would be coming out of it.

5. Add 2 tbsp of ghee to this mixture and mix it with hand (it would feel course in texture).

6. Now microwave for 2 more minutes.

7. Add the remaining ghee, cardamom powder, almond flour and mix evenly.

8. Microwave for 1 minute.

9. Now the besan mixture will look deeper in color and courser in texture.

10. Cool this mixture till it’s not very hot to touch.

11. Add sugar, milk and mix evenly.

12. Now while the mixture is still warm, put oil in your hand and form small round balls / ladoo. (This needs to be made when the mixture is warm or else the ladoo's will not form).

Instructions

Mix the flour, baking powder, anise seed, and chopped butter together. Keep mixing by hand until the dough is crumbly or you can put everything into a food processor. Add coconut to the dough and mix well.

Pour entire can of evaporated milk into the mixture and knead to form a dough ball. Add flour/ water if needed, to bring everything together. Cover with a damp paper towel and set aside and let it sit for about 30-40 minutes. (the damp napkin keeps the dough from forming a crust) Roll out dough and cut into desired size. Heat oil and fry until golden brown.

Combine sugar, water, and vanilla, if using. Boil on low for about 35 minutes, or longer depending on your stove. When sugar is ready, pour over mithai and toss until sugar is no longer clear and has become white.

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NOVEMBER 4 , 2018

Literary Corner

By Dr Vishnu Bisram

M

onsoon on the Fingers of God, written by a Guyanese residing in America, is a thoughtful collection of poems relevant to Guyanese and other Caribbean people, the Indian sub-continent, and the UK. This collection of poems revolves around several topics, issues, and places.

The collection is laden with a lifetime of experience and a finely honed craft, which the poet Sasenarine Persaud of East Coast brings to bear with full force on his writings.

Sasenarine is an essayist, novelist, short story writer, and poet. He was born

in Guyana, and lived in Canada and Florida. This is his fourteenth book. He has a long history in writing and in poetry. He served as Vice President and Chair of the membership committee of the League of Canadian Poets, on the Board of Directors of the Scarborough Arts Council (Toronto), and on juries for the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.

The title poem, “Monsoon on the Fingers of God” is a tribute to the great sitar maestro, Ravi Shankar and his historic and electrifying appearances at Monterey and Woodstock.

This poem places the focus on Shankar’s genius as a musician and what he meant for American and world music, rather than the contemporary penchant on scandals that dominate news.

Several poems deal with matters pertaining to the United Kingdom in which references are made to Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland and other parts of the former British Empire, including India.

Indeed, Scotland and the UK are touchstones for this

collection but mention is made of so many other places. The poetry encourages an engagement with historical events, challenges, joys, emotions, and fears. Some of the subjects are on parents and children, historical events like slavery and indenture, and joyful memories of nature and sports as well as issues of faith.

There is a consistent tone of introspection, grief, exploitation, abuse, and of overcoming hardship (like slavery, indentureship, migration, settling in a new strange place, etc.).

The topics are effect i v e ly and skillfully addressed.

Sasenarine Persaud writes with eloquence, rhythm and musicality evident from the first page.

In Scotland and the UK just prior to the 2014 Scottish referendum to separate from the UK and to affirm their identity and language, the author poet comes face to face with his own angst regarding identity and language – namely, his community’s migration from India and its 180 years presence in the Americas.

He reflects on his Indian ancestors more dramatically so when he comes upon a Roma (Gypsy) beggar in the heart of Edinburgh, who is a splitting image of his great-grand mother, “Nani” (“Roma in Edinburgh”). But why be surprised? India is all around, in the numerals on street signs, in the language of yoga, and the Roma themselves, who are after all a people of Indian origin, discriminated in Europe for centuries because of their dark skin and their Indian language, Romani: “How could you/ make this trek from Rajasthan or UP? How could I? he rhetorically asked.

Except in a language we share with the world - yogayogayoga - through Anglo-Saxon cousins/ Sanskrit; or these numbers on streets and hotels/ storefront markers, Hindu Numerals/ Arabs borrowed from India zero-invented…”

The poem concludes questioning a multiple faceted identity: “…how do you compute/ BritishGuianese-GuyaneseCanadian-AmericanIndian”.

The book presents his unique and inimitable poetry and word usage. Sasenarine opens the book with a couple of short poems followed by longer ones and then shorter ones. It is an effective mix on varied subjects (children, memory, karma, Scotland, etc.) written with different styles with well-chosen words. Sasenarine is a poet armed with a lot of knowledge and experience in his craft. And this book is a thoughtful and deep meditation on identity and migrations. Almost all the poems are relatively short – less than a page or a maximum two pages - except a couple that are quite long. There are poems with obvious lyrical rhythms (“Approaching Day’s End”) and others that are simple free-verse structures as in “Master Batsman” and “Tiger Tiger” both tributes to iconic cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul. What he says of Chanderpaul, likened to the grace of the Bengal tiger is equally true of his own writing: “Do not be fooled by a cat’s easy gait/ heading for water at dusk, or dinner, bat’s repast another century, where glasses are tinted/ and made of Lord’s sand, where it is acceptable/ to mistake tiger for crab and diamond for dishwasher.”

If a master batsman makes batting seem easy and effortless, so too the master poet. But don’t be fooled by that “easy gait” which has come from diligent commitment, practice and dedication to craft.

There is lyrical poetry in personal emotions and feelings from the poet though out this collection such as in “Sugar and Tea”, and elegant strophes (stanzas of varying line-length), as in the poem, “To a Kashmiri Child in a Hindu Refugee Camp in Delhi”.

Each poem is on a different scene, subject, thought, and realization, and occasionally, what appears to be carefully wrought prose rather than rhymes or rhythms in stanzas or verses. Each poem is a self-contained narrative or descrip-

tion; almost each is short.

The book itself is divided into two sections. The poems are written in free verse, sometimes with rhyming couplets; in whatever style, the work demonstrates mastery of several poetic forms and techniques. There are metaphors and allusions and an occasional epigraph.

Use of alliteration and extended metaphors are skillfully used. Poetic language is concrete and evocative, with memorable lines or phrases like “—My bonnie lies over the ocean. My bonnie lies over the seas—in sun/ tomorrow we will again trawl ocean” in the poem titled “Fisherman Returning”.

The several devices used by poets are integral to poetry writings and Sasenarine uses them effectively in this collection.

The poems rely more on content than on style. The poems are not written in any overt complex style, which is appealing. There are lyrical rhythms and clean freeverse structures. The language is deceptively simple as in the lines in the poem numbered “15”: “I cannot/ name the village from which my father’s father’s/ father’s father’s father came. And still, I do not/ envy you – grass eyes – and yet we have love/ a language we cannot give love until we love”.

Several of the poems were written to remind readers of specific messages or subjects as in those titled: “Roma in Edinburgh”,” Karma Mornings”, “Head Cover”, “A Sheep’s Life”, “The Scott Monument”, “Referendum”, “Searching for El Dorado”, “Sugar and Tea”, “Burial Grounds”, “Fisherman Returning” etc. Each poem captures the emotions of historic events (like indentureship, searching for gold in

colonial times, burial, massacre in Sri Lanka, voting, etc.) in a way that makes the descriptions both personal (like the writer experienced them) and universal (history of so many colonial societies).

Readers get to understand history, politics, and religion, and the poems deepen the readers’ view of the subjects. The thoughts and insights in the poems

are that of a very perceptive, educated, and skilled writer who knows his subjects and who seems to have spent a significant amount of time perfecting his writing. No doubt, this work is a voice of tranquility and unmistakable originality. The writer is applauded for the extraordinary collection of poems that demonstrate “Monsoon on the Fingers of God”.

The clear blue sky, The scent of flowers, The colours of Rangoli, And the sound of crackers.

The gifts and sweets from dear ones, And the getting of their love, The light of the candles below, And the dazzling fireworks up above.

Lighting lamps at our homes, Making the less fortunate smile, Putting on new apparels, Show our friends some style.

Paying respects to the gods, And decorating for them the thali, This is what the occasion is all about, This is the spirit of Deepavali.

Anonymous

guyanatimesgy.com

NOVEMBER 4 , 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 11

12 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Puzzles

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ACROSS

95 Blister or scrape Leafy shelter 96 Refrigerant Rugged vehicles

97 Singer Aimee -Old calculators

98 Bring to mind Ballerina's asset

99 Melt together Fridge maker

100 Say on impulse Turn away

101 Bob of "Cabaret" Fix up

102 Loses it (2 wds.)

Navigator's aid

104 Shaving products Nice- -- (prude)

105 Offer Black tea

106 Sudden urges "I've Got -- --" (Jim Croce tune) 109 Tease City near Syracuse

110 Nightclub numbers Flickering

111 Single (2 wds.)

Area

115 -- Dhabi Midterm or final

116 Has the stage (2 wds.)

Edge a doily

117 Fibber or Molly Practiced for rodeo

118 Jazz saxophonist John -Calvin of golf

119 Citation Vestige

121 Playful mammal Loafer, maybe 123 Smacks Shell filling

125 Zoologist's study Zealot

126 Hunts for food Taping over

127 Preferred strategy (2 wds.)

Put it to

128 Humerus neighbors Verne of sci-fi 129 Absolute Some layers

130 On a liner (2 wds.)

Recently

131 Waffle topper Steakhouse order

132 Bedding plant Removes the rind

133 Cautious Round building DOWN Dart, for instance 1 Trite Business deg.

2 Sweater letter Grinch creator

3 Partitions Legume holders 4 Recruit Hot soak

5 Burr or Massey Block, as a stream

6 Mocked at Op-ed artist Pat

7 Happily -- after Burlap fiber

8 Cartoon shriek Courtroom dozen

9 Mentor's charges Wife, to a lawyer

10 Hi-fi rigs Take back

11 -- -- against time

46 Wren's residence

12 Aptitude

47 Bad mood

13 Triumphant shout

48 Aired in syndication

14 Tourists' gadgets

50 Suffix for "forfeit"

15 Mountain goats

51 Writer's job 16 Blue

52 Dory mover

17 Fruit problem

54 Veld grazer

18 Elementary subj.

55 Marathon unit

19 Chocolate tree 56 Kill a bill

20 Related to mom

58 Bakery goodies

30 Shook hands 59 Sleep lightly

32 Legal rep.

60 Tern cousin

34 Gymnast's need

63 Glamorous wraps 37 Mounds

64 Make clear (2 wds.)

38 007 foe (2 wds.)

65 Hear clearly 39 Noncoms 66 Beavers' young

41 Fly to pieces 68 Table salt 42 Lampreys 69 Dental woe

43 Vintage vehicle

70 Pedro's uncle

44 Chain mail

72 Beyond rad

45 Deep black

73

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- BALLISTIC (BALLISTIC: buh-LIS-tik: Relating to the study of the dynamics of projectiles.)

Average mark 30 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 41 or more words in BALLISTIC? bail bait ball basic basil bast bias bill blast blat

alibi alit laic last licit lilac lilt list ibis italics

sail salt scab scat silica sill silt slab slat slit

stab stall still tail talc tall tibia till call cast

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

Black-and-yellow snake Short outing Go to earth Comforter stuffing Burro alternative Gulf nation Nobel Prize category In a whisper (2 wds.)

Smudge Pottery fragment Nudge Keg stopper Lop off branches Leap in a tutu Jupiter's wife Wild Invalid Dovetails Come back to win Feels under par Authentic

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Shark domain Candice's dad

101 "A -- of Dollars" "Gigi" composer 103 Plunges Montezuma, for one

104 Low-lying clouds Kind of swan

105 Checkbook amt.

Orlando attraction 106 Colorado river Minute amounts 107 Siskel cohort Archaeology find 108 Undressed ones Cherry center 110 Junk Vodka and lime drinks 111 Dictatorial Expose or reveal 112 Terre --, Indiana Tarot readers

113 -- circle Serbian folk dance 114 All choked up A -- for news

116 Rick's old flame Rock band "musts" 117 Bill of fare Hangs loosely

118 Tax pros Bldg. manager

120 Skipper's OK Protozoans' legs 122 Pothole filler Not extreme

124 Raggedy doll Lightly Crams (2 wds.)

See Solution on Pg 14

guyanatimesgy.com

A MESSAGE FROM THE ETHNIC RELATIONS COMMISSION (ERC) ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS 2018

D

ear brothers and sisters of Guyana, as you are aware, our nation is in the process of another important elections, specifically Local Government Elections to be held on November 12, 2018.

Many of our citizens, either from Parliamentary and other political Parties, independent groups or as individual candidates, are engaged in the process to become elected representatives within the various Municipalities and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils while thousands of others will be executing their constitutional and democratic right to vote for those of their choice.

Campaigning is a natural and integral part of the process for the purpose of bringing awareness to programs and polices of those who seek these public offices. These campaigns, whether through public meetings or personal interactions, in addition to its primary objective of awareness, unfortunately hold the potential for statements which are counterproductive to the fostering of harmony, to be enunciated.

If that potential were to be realized, then the challenges it can pose to our society, as what regrettably obtained in the past, need no explanation or convincing.

It is in this context that the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), with a constitutional mandate for the promotion of harmony and good relations, as agreed by the various political Parties within our country’s Parliament, seeks your assistance for you to do your part and to encourage all to keep the campaigns and other interactions, including social media, free of any utterance which can impact negatively on national harmony and good relations amongst Guyanese.

Guided by lessons on elections from our history, the ERC believes that the assistance sought from you is extremely important given it’s a task it cannot accomplish on its own. Among other things, a campaign free of hate, racial and all other forms of incitement is most desirable and essential to the efforts of building and sustaining a cohesive nation with a common destiny.

The promotion of harmony, while constitutionally mandated to the ERC, is a vital process that requires the efforts of all of us. The Chairman, Commissioner and Staff of the ERC encourage that the campaign, the electoral procedures on November 12 and the period following be proliferated with respect and tolerance in a demonstration to ourselves and others that while we will disagree in the process, it is not a reason for hostility through hated.

Let us together use this opportunity and challenge ourselves to remove whatever barriers of togetherness and humanity that confront us as we endeavor collectively to promote harmony, unity and good relations. Elections must not be a process that divides us.

Let us also use this opportunity to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood and to make foremost the welfare of this land that is home to all of us; our Guyana.

The ERC takes this opportunity to extend best wishes to all the candidates who continue to dedicate their time to become representatives of the various constituencies; to all the staff and volunteers involved in the process and to you whether you are eligible to cast a ballot or not. Peace, during and after the process is in the hands of all of us.

Thank you.

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 13

W

hatsApp has reportedly confirmed that it's putting ads in its Status feature. A senior executive of the Facebook-owned messaging service told New Delhi media on Wednesday that ads are coming, according to India's Economic Times.

"That is going to be primary monetization mode for the company as well as an opportunity for businesses to reach people on WhatsApp," Chris Daniels, WhatsApp vice president, said to reporters.

Status lets you post photos, videos and GIFs that disappear after 24 hours. Daniels didn't say when ads will come to Status, and WhatsApp didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time we've heard about ads on WhatsApp. Facebook is

eager for the messaging service, which it acquired for $19 billion in 2014, to start making money. WhatsApp said in August that businesses will be able to do things like provide real-time cus-

tomer service and send information like boarding passes or shipping confirmations.

The relationship between Facebook and WhatsApp has been a tense one.

WhatsApp's co-founders, Brian Acton and Jan Koum, left the company in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Acton urged his Twitter followers to delete Facebook in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and Koum reportedly clashed with the social network over its use of personal data.

They're not alone among top executives departing Facebook after the social networking giant acquired their companies. Others who've headed for the exit in recent months include Brendan Iribe, CEO of VR specialist Oculus, and Kevin Systrom, CEO of Instagram. (CNET)

14 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Bollywood/Hollywood

S

aif Ali Khan says doing Baazaar was a big risk, and he is glad that it paid off well. In the film, Saif portrays role of a small town boy who becomes the wolf of the stock trading market, is known for his business acumen and understands “only maths”.

“My role in Baazaar was challenging for many reasons. Apart from exploring a subject centred around the stock market, which hasn’t been done

before, my character was also very layered with shades of grey,” Saif said in a statement to IANS. “It was a risk and I’m glad it paid off,” he added.

Baazaar, a film on stocks, money and crime, also stars Chitrangada Singh and Radhika Apte. The Gauravv K Chawla directorial is being appreciated for tackling a different subject in a relatable manner.

A

fter their thriller Ek Villain, Riteish Deshmukh and Sidharth Malhotra are set to reunite in yet another actioner, Marjaavaan.

The film will have Sidharth romancing newbie Tara Sutaria who is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Student of the Year 2.

Marjaavaan is also the next collaboration of the Satyamev Jayate team – Bhushan Kumar, Nikkhil Advani and Milap Milan Zaveri. Its makers announced the cast and release date, by tweeting the title poster on Wednesday.

Being touted as a violent love story set against the backdrop of Mumbai

A

ctor Rana Daggubati has reportedly replaced actor Nana Patekar in Housefull 4 after the latter was accused of sexual harassment by Tanushree Dutta. Patekar had stepped down from his role after the accusations were made against him.

The Baahubali actor spoke to Mumbai Mirror saying, “It is always good to find work outside of Hyderabad, get to learn so much and do so many new things. I’ve never been part of a genre like Housefull and it’s always exciting to work with different genres. Working with Akshay Kumar again (after Neeraj Pandey’s 2015 action-spy thriller Baby),

Sajid Nadiadwala and Farhad Samji is something I am really looking forward to.”

Sajid Khan also stepped down from as the director of the film after he, too, was accused of sexual harassment by four women. He was replaced by Farhad Samji.

Akshay, Riteish Deshmukh, Bobby Deol, Kriti Sanon, Kriti Kharbanda and Pooja Hegde will play the lead roles in the multi-starrer slapstick comedy. According to the same report, Rana will be joining the cast of Housefull 4 in Mumbai next week. He is reportedly playing the role of a ghazal singer in the film.

(Hindustan Times)

C

hanning Tatum reunited with Jenna Dewan on Halloween to take their daughter, Everly, trick-or-treating.

The Magic Mike star dressed up as the genie from Disney's Aladdin and the World of Dance mentor donned a Cleopatra costume. Tatum documented their family outing on Instagram and even shared a selfie of the duo. He also posted a video of him spooking his former spouse, as well as footage of the two parents holding their 5-yearold daughter's hand.

One particularly funny moment was when the stars asked someone handing out candy if they could enter

city, Marjaavaan goes on floors in December 2018 and is slated for release on October 2, 2019.

Karan Johar couldn’t contain his happiness too and tweeted good wishes to the team which includes his two protegees, Sid and Tara. “This ones going to be a box office smasher!!!

Congratulations to the always positive and on point @zmilap my school buddies @monishaadvani @madhubhojwani @nikkhiladvani ! My dearest friend @ritesh_sid and my proud soulful student @S1dharthM ! Rock it!!!️,” Karan said via Twitter.

Nikkhil Advani said in a statement,

their house, so their daughter could use the bathroom.

"I made Jenna do it because I was afraid that they wouldn't be so receptive to me," Tatum said, noting his face was completely covered with a mask.

The reunion came just a few days after Dewan officially filed for divorce from Tatum. Still, their amicable co-parenting shouldn't come as a surprise to fans. When they announced their separation seven months ago, the two made it clear "we are still a family and will always be loving dedicated parents to Everly."

This wasn't the first time the two had come together for their daughter. They

“My company Emmay Entertainment has been developing this film with Milap since two years and we hope to exceed expectations with Marjaavaan.

Be prepared for action, dialogue-baazi Milap style, with a moving tale of love and longing.”

Milap added, “I am continuously grateful for all the support my film Satyameva Jayate received. So excited and grateful to team up again with T Series and Emmay. This is a family production for me to have all those associated with it, as part of it.” (Indian Express)

also reunited for a visit to the little lady's school back in June.

However, the celebrities are definitely moving on and have been romantically linked to other people.

Last month, E! News reported Tatum is dating Jessie J. The actor was spotted

attending one of the singer's concerts in Houston, TX just a few days before.

Dewan also seems to have a new man in her life. She was spotted getting cozy with actor Steve Kazee at a Halloween party last weekend. (E Online)

Crossword Solution

N

eil Young has confirmed that he and Daryl Hannah are indeed married.

Multiple outlets had reported in August that the 72-year-old "Heart of Gold" and "Rockin' in the Free World" singer-songwriter and the 57-year-old Splash and Kill Bill actress had tied the knot amid a fouryear relationship at a secret wedding—two, actually. At the time, Hannah shared a cryptic post on Instagram that featured an owl and the caption, "Someone's watching over us.... love & only love."

On Wednesday, Young was anything but cryptic, but he was political when he confirmed marriage by calling Hannah his "wife" on his official website. The actress shared a link to it on her Instagram.

On his site, Young posted a video for his band's song, "Ohio," which he wrote "was written back in 1970 after seeing the cover of a magazine with a young girl kneeling beside her fallen friend" after "the National Guard murdered four students at Ohio's Kent State University for protesting the Vietnam War." "My wife Daryl and I put this video together for you to reflect on," Young wrote.

"Support the students," he wrote. "Support our children. They want protection. Not more guns.

Give us common sense gun laws that protect our people, in schools, in places of worship, in the workplace and on the streets. VOTE. (E Online)

guyanatimesgy.com

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

NOVEMBER 4, 2018

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES (March 21April 19)

If you want to move forward, you must address issues that are bothering you.

A heart-to-heart discussion will help you solve your dilemma. Romance will improve your life.

Don't doubt yourself. Push TAURUS forward and go after what you (April 20want. You'll be offered valuMay 20) able information if you attend a seminar or retreat.

Socialize and make plans GEMINI to do things with people who (MAY 28make you laugh. Spending June 20) time with someone you love will lead to talks and plans.

Physical activities are favored.

Be careful how you deal with touchy matters.

(June 21- Emotions will surface and July 22) moods will change rapidly if you aren't willing to compromise. Don't let stubbornness ruin your day.

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

Peanuts

Express your thoughts and feelings with the people you care about most. A last-minute change shouldn't deter you from following through with your plans.

Romance is highlighted.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Consider the changes going on around you to discover a way to get something positive to unfold. An unexpected change at home will turn into a blessing in disguise.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Take a deep breath and exhale. Don't let your emotions take charge. Being patient will give you the edge required to take control and keep the peace.

SCORPIO Take care of your chores (Oct. 24- and personal responsibilities Nov. 22) before someone complains. A proposition will result if you attend a cultural event or take part in something unusual.

SAGITTARIUS An open dialogue will help (Nov. 23- you get to the bottom of a situDec. 21) ation that needs adjustment.

The changes you make should allow you greater freedom to do as you please.

Calvin and Hobbes

The power of positive CAPRICORN thought will help you get your (Dec. 22- way. Charm and persuasive Jan. 19) tactics will sway those who have opposed you in the past.

Physical improvements will add to your appeal.

Put more thought into AQUARIUS how you handle your money (Jan. 20- and personal situations. A Feb. 19) good plan can help you prevent some of the problems you have faced in the past.

Avoid excessive people.

Look for a chance to use PISCES (Feb. 20- your creativity to enhance Mar. 20) your image and attract attention. You are unlikely to get what you want without giving something up.