Diwali should be two days

ALLOW me to acknowledge and expand on the letter from Hamraj Maharaj of Avoca. “The good, old Diwali days” ( POST, October 25 to 29).

For more than 130 years, Diwali in South Africa has always been observed over two days.

It was only during the last decade or so that some of our religious leaders decided that the Festival of Lights should be celebrated on one day.

Since then our most important day in the Hindu calendar has become a bone of contention. Diwali is not a national holiday, but a religious holiday observed by Hindus in South Africa.

Tradition reminds us that Lord Ram returned from Sri Lanka, first passing through the south of India and then, the next day, to Ayodha in the north.

His homecoming was a celebration not only of his sacrifice of 14 years in exile, but also to note the conquest of good over evil.

This lends credence to the reasons for the two days of celebrations. I believe we should be guided by history and tradition and celebrate our festival over two days, like we had done for nearly a century-and-a-half.

RAMESH SUKDEO

Durban