Diwali Celebrations in Labasa
The pre-Diwali and International Rural Women’s Day celebration marked a memorable one when the root crop section vendors of Labasa market performed a special item in Labasa yesterday.
The section made up of market vendors danced while one sat on a wheelbarrow wearing a mask and being pushed by her partner, one carried an empty FMF biscuit bucket making music and a third carried a black umbrella.
The atmosphere in this section of the market where the celebration was held was full of laughter. Labasa Market Association secretary Marica Tagivakatini said it was important to organise the double celebration at one time to allow market vendors to enjoy together.
“It is very difficult for vendors to leave their produce on the table and attend two separate celebrations. That is the reason we have a two in one celebration so that everyone can enjoy.”
“The market consists of more than a thousand vendors and most of them are women from the rural areas,” she said.
“It is important to recognise the contributions made by rural women towards development and it is also vital to observe the Diwali celebration with our Fijian friends as it is the most awaited celebration for them during the year.” Meanwhile, the chief guest, FemLINK Pacific Northern convener Adi Merewalesi Levu said rural women’s contribution to local and national development was immense.
“Women must stand up and rise from the norms of being patronised as weak and vulnerable, violated of our human rights and stereotyped as sex symbols by systems and structures,” Ms Levu said.
“I would like to commend the support given by the Labasa Market Association towards women in the market.
As we gather for the double celebration I would urge women to claim your voice, space and the rightful development service you need to better support rural women and community.”
Fiji National University
Diwali is a time to forgive those who have wronged you and seek forgiveness from those you have wronged, says Fiji National University (FNU) student association president of Labasa campus Jone Naisilasila.
Mr Nasilasila made the comment during the Diwali celebration at the campus yesterday. Mr Naisilasila, although being a person with disability using elbow crutches for support advised the students to drop regrets of the past, worries of the future and live in the present.
“One of the significances of Diwali is to remove darkness,” Mr Naisilasila said.
“It also signifies the birth of Goddess Laxmi from the ocean and the return of Lord Rama from 14 years of exile to his kingdom Ayodhya. Hence, Diwali is a time for sharing and rekindling relationships.”
“Diwali is all about lighting the lamp of love in your heart, lamp of abundance in your homes and lamp of compassion to serve others,” he said.
“I hope the students of FNU will take heed of my message and I wish them a joyous and safe Diwali.” Meanwhile, Kajal Chand, a second year student pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in management and human resource management, said the main significance of Diwali was to remove darkness that was within or inside us like anger, self-centeredness and other impurities.
“We are celebrating the victory of good over evil, therefore we have to replace these impurities with wisdom, gratitude, patience and understanding,” Ms Chand said.
After the celebration all the students gathered around the table to share Diwali sweets.