Message from Her Excellency on Divali 2024
Fellow citizens, Today, we join our brothers and sisters in the Hindu community, across the...
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Message from Her Excellency on Divali 2024
Fellow citizens, Today, we join our brothers and sisters in the Hindu community, across the...
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Message from Her Excellency Christine Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the occasion of Divali 2024![]()
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Fellow citizens,![]()
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Today, we join our brothers and sisters in the Hindu community, across the country and around the world, in celebrating Divali, the festival of lights.![]()
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Divali is an occasion of great jubilation, especially for those who have devoted weeks to fasting, prayer and meticulous preparation. As families and communities gather today to break their fast, exchange gifts, and light deyas, they welcome Mother Lakshmi into their homes, which have been carefully cleaned and prepared in anticipation of Her arrival.![]()
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Divali invites us to embrace a beautiful duality: it is a period for both joyous celebration and sober reflection.![]()
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We celebrate joyously Lord Ram’s defeat of Ravan and the liberation of Mother Sita and in doing so, replicate the lighting of thousands of earthen lamps to welcome Lord Ram and Mother Sita home. ![]()
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Even as we engage in joyful celebration, Divali also offers us an opportunity for sober introspection and for spiritual enlightenment. The principles embodied by Lord Ram and Mother Sita remind us, not only to persevere in our pursuit of self-improvement and enlightenment, but also of our duty to translate faith into action, and live righteously towards our loved ones, neighbours and fellow citizens. Lord Ram's victory over Ravan is not only a powerful symbol of the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil, but is also a poignant demonstration of the power of love, courage, faith and devotion to overcome even the most formidable challenges.![]()
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As we celebrate and as we ponder in our hearts the festival of Divali this year, let us vow to embody and practice the principles of Divali, every day. As we prepare our homes for the blessings of Mother Lakshmi, let us also reflect on the contents of our hearts, that truth about our attitudes, and the impact of our actions. By doing so, and by making the necessary changes in each of these areas, we truly invite the spirit of Divali into our lives, and we truly aspire to the ultimate goal of choosing good over evil.![]()
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I extend to the Hindu community and all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago heartfelt wishes for an auspicious Divali celebration. May the joy and peace of Divali fill every home throughout the nation.![]()
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#shubhdivali #LightOverDarkness #officeofthepresidentt
Their Excellencies Christine Carla Kangaloo, ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Kerwyn Garcia SC, First Gentleman , attended the NCIC Divali Nagar on Tuesday October 29, 2024. ![]()
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Her Excellency delivered the feature address and paid tribute to Dr. Deokinanan Sharma, the visionary behind the Nagar. Leveraging the 2024 theme, Grihastja Ashram- Building Homes and Families, Her Excellency called for a greater focus on the family as a healthy home and healthy family are a microcosm of a health society. ![]()
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Her Excellency shared the message of collective responsibility ‘ I believe that Divali Nagar is the perfect platform from which to make such a call. “Divali Nagar” and “family” go hand in hand. Attending the Divali Nagar is a family affair. It is a time for bonding, creating new traditions and experiencing history, culture and spiritual customs as a family unit. ![]()
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My wish and my prayer for all of us are that we will use the theme of this year’s Divali Nagar to come home - to ourselves, to our families, and to God. My wish and my prayer are that we will understand that we are all part of a national family which requires our contributions in order for it to grow and develop. And my wish and my prayer are that, for this Divali and after, we will rise to the challenge of our collective responsibility to sacrifice for one another, to take accountability for our actions, and to extend compassion, support, and consideration to all of our brothers and sisters, regardless of colour, class, race or creed.![]()
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Let us, therefore, commit ourselves to this journey of growth and responsibility. Let us actively participate in the nurturing of our families and communities, understanding that our actions have the power to enhance the lives of other people. Regardless of family structure, whether we were born into a stable family unit, or not, we can all embody the values of “Grihastha Ashram,” and ultimately become a more compassionate and supportive society. Let this prayer from the Rig Veda be ours: “May we belong to one brotherhood. May our hearts and minds move toward one supreme goal. May we be inspired by common ideals. May our aspirations be harmonious. May our minds be in unison. May we strive to reduce disparity. May we be bound in strong fellowship and unity. ![]()
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#DivaliNagar #family #officeofthepresidentt
On Monday October 28, 2024, Their Excellencies Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Kerwyn Garcia SC, First Gentleman, hosted Divali Celebrations for the staff of the Office of the President. ![]()
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The staff joined Their Excellencies in the lighting of deyas that adorned the front and eastern façade of the House.![]()
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#lightoverdarkness #divali2024 #officeofthepresidentt