Indian Idol singer Ankush Bhardwaj will perform at a Grand Dinner and Concert on Saturday, October 31, part of a nationwide calendar of Diwali events announced by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha.

Bhardwaj will be joined by Guyanese vocalist Vishale Samlall at the Railway Courtyard. Proceeds will support Bal Nivas, the Sabha's shelter for children, and the Dharmic Rama Krishna School Expansion Project. Tickets are available through the Dharmic Kendra on 227-6181.

Activities begin on Wednesday, October 28 with a Deep Jale celebration at the Palmyra Monument Site in Berbice and culminate in the Georgetown and East Coast Demerara motorcade on Saturday, November 7, the day before Diwali.
The Georgetown Deep Jale celebration will be held on Wednesday, November 4 at the Kitty Seawall Roundabout from 6pm, with a puja, the lighting of the display and cultural presentations. A Deep Jale Bazaar will run from November 4 to 6, with Diwali items, vegetarian food and sweets on sale. Admission is free.

The Sabha's regional branches, known as Praants, will host Deep Jale celebrations at the Anna Regina Town Council on October 30, the Oceanview Mandir Compound on the West Coast Demerara on November 2, and the Providence Stadium on the East Bank Demerara on November 5. Regional motorcades are also scheduled:

• Sunday, November 1: four motorcades in Berbice, at the Bath Community Centre Ground (West Berbice), Rosehall Ground (East Berbice), Port Mourant Ground (Central Corentyne) and Tagore High School Ground (Upper Corentyne)
• Thursday, November 5: Anna Regina Car Park, Essequibo
• Friday, November 6: Providence Stadium, East Bank Demerara, and Oceanview Mandir Compound, West Coast Demerara

The main motorcade will assemble at the Shri Krishna Mandir in Campbellville from 5:30pm and depart at 6:30pm. Floats representing Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice will travel via Sandy Babb Street and Vlissengen Road, then along the Seawall to the LBI Community Centre Ground on the East Coast Demerara. The Sabha said it has sustained the tradition for more than five decades.

A cultural programme and prize presentation will follow at the LBI ground from 7pm, with performers including Ben Parag, Samlall, Artie Sookhai Khelawan, Bunty Singh, Cindy Sookram, Dharmic Nritya Sangh and Berbice Delights. Admission is free and alcohol will not be permitted.

Inter-school rangoli competitions are also being held across the Praants.

Ankush Bhardwaj