The important role of the Diwali festival is to preserve our cultural identity and transferring it to the next generation.
This was highlighted by the Indian High Commissioner to Fiji, Shri Karthigeyan who says such events are the platforms that our elders and ancestors have formulated to ensure that our culture is not lost and that knowledge is passed on to the next generation in a vibrant way.
Karthigeyan says 145 years ago when people were brought from India to Fiji to work as slaves the only thing they brought with them was a deep abiding faith in their culture and their heritage.
He says the ancestors preserved all their hardships and never forgot to celebrate cultural events such as Diwali.
He adds that it is important for everyone to remember the cultural significance of the festivals so we can understand the roots of each event.
Diwali will be celebrated this Friday whereas Dhanteras will be this Wednesday.
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