Beam of joy, hope makes Diwali special each year
The following is a message from Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on Diwali
As our nation comes together to celebrate Diwali, the feeling of excitement in the air is as unmistakable as the sound of fireworks that light up Fiji’s night sky. Through the streets of communities all throughout Fiji, as music plays and sweets are exchanged, that buzz –– that feeling of love for our fellow Fijians –– unites us all together, regardless of religion or creed.
In these moments, it becomes clear why this is called the ‘festival of lights’; not only for the candles and sparklers, but for the brightness that shines through each of us. It’s that beam of joy and hope that makes this holiday so special each year, and it’s that light, that focus on good over evil, that gleams not on our differences, but on the national harmony we have established together, a Fiji united as one. This cheerful mood, and this national unity, is not something that we can ever take for granted. Far too many of us remember, not so long ago, when celebrations this were unfathomable in Fiji. While past governments have willfully incited hatred and sowed division, the visionary leadership of the Bainimarama and FijiFirst Governments have brought us into a new era, under a common identity, in which we are all equal. It’s precisely this security that has made such a festive spirit possible, and as we move forward, it’s a lesson that Fiji should never forget –– particularly as the same divisive powers and those who support them, who once tore our nation apart now threaten our peace and prosperity, thinly veiled as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
But even our nation’s bleakest moments have meaning. To truly value and cherish light, darkness must also exist; only by comparing the two can we come to fully appreciate goodness for all its worth. Only now, in our current state of solidarity and peace, can we comprehend the great potential that Fiji has to offer. We have come too far to let this light fade now. As we go to the polls in the week ahead, let us once again choose love. Once and for all, let us come together to forever close that dark chapter of Fijian history, and instead choose to celebrate the many light-filled pages that have yet to be written.
This year, and in the many more to come, I wish every Fijian and their family a very happy Diwali.