Countrywide motorcade begins this weekend

This year, the Sabha has organized eight motorcades around the country. Thousands of Guyanese will line the streets and converge at the various venues to enjoy the dazzling spectacle, which ushers in the Festival of Lights. There will be gorgeously bedecked representations of Mother Lakshmi and other depictions from the Scriptures, a kaleidoscope of lights, devotional music and much more.

On Sunday, October 27, four motorcades will be held in Berbice. In West Coast Berbice, the motorcade will leave from the Rosignol Stelling Road for the Bath Community Centre Ground. In East Berbice, the floats will assemble at the Church View Gift Shop in New Amsterdam and then proceed along the Main Road to Banks DIH tarmac to Princess Elizabeth Road and then to the Canje Welfare Community Centre Ground. The Central Corentyne Praant’s Motorcade will move from Bushlot, Corentyne and No. 1 Village and converge at Port Mourant Community Centre Ground. In Upper Corentyne, floats will make their way from Crabwook Creek and No. 36 Village to the Tagore High School Ground. All of the motorcades will culminate with cultural programmes and presentation of prizes.

On Friday November 1, the East Bank Demerara Sabha will hold their motorcade at the Diamond Market Tarmac. Floats will leave from the Soesdyke Vishnu Mandir and the National Stadium parking lot at 6pm. A rich cultural presentation has been planned for Diamond.

Also on Friday November 1, the West Demerara Praant of the Sabha will hold their motorcade at the Ocean view Mandir Compound. The floats will leave from Ruimzeigt and Parika at 6pm and make their way to Ocean view Mandir Compound, where there will be a grand cultural show featuring some of Guyana’s best artistes and special international guest artiste. The stage programme commences at 7pm.

The spectacular Georgetown/ East Coast Demerara Motorcade will be held on Saturday November 2nd. The fabulously decorated floats will assemble at the Shri Krishna Mandir, Campbellville from 6pm and will move west along Campbell Avenue into Sandy Babb Street, north into J.B Singh Road and east onto Seawall Road to the LBI Community Centre Ground. Guyanese are encouraged to line the route of the motorcade to enjoy the fantastic display of Guyanese creativity. At the LBI Community Centre Ground, the stage programme starts at 7pm with performances by the Dharmic NrityaSangh, Sookrane Boodhoo, Rekha Singh, Mona, the Caribbean Hotshots Band, musicians from Mumbai, special guest artiste and much more. In excess of 3.5M in cash and trophies will be presented to the winning floats in the small, large and commercial categories.

Admission to all motorcades is free and no alcohol is allowed. In addition to the motorcades, on Saturday October 26th, the Sabha hosts Diwali Utsav at the Guyana International Conference Centre featuring singers Jeffrey Iqbal, Gunjan Singh along with the Dharmic NrityaSangh and other top Guyanese artistes. Gates open at 5pm. In addition to the concert, there will be a number of food stalls offering a wide variety of vegetarian cuisine, mehendi stalls and lots of Diwali shopping opportunities. Tickets cost $5000 and $2000 and are available at the Dharmic Kendra, Red Mango, Bhagwans, E-Networks and the Murti Shop.

Dharmic Sabha has also organized rangoli competitions in several schools around the country to encourage student participation in the festival. On November 10 and 16, the Mahila Mandalee, women’s section of the Sabha will host a children’s Diwali party and concert at the Kendra in Georgetown and in East Berbice, respectively catering for some 600 children