Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa says that Diwali is a great and beautiful festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.
Ro Teimumu says that this is something which is embraced by people everywhere, whatever their origins, beliefs or religion and it is truly a universal theme.
In her Diwali message, Ro Teimumu says that in Fiji the Hindu light of Diwali co-exists harmoniously with the light of Christianity and the radiance they spread serves to unite in a special way for our diverse nation.
She says recently the people of her Vanua accepted the descendants of those survivors of the Syria which was carrying indentured labourers from India on May 11th, 1884.
Ro Teimumu adds that now after the passing of the years, her own people and today’s descendants of the Syria have unified in a unique way which is through solemn ceremonies both groups reached out to each other to become one.
She says that those who came to Rewa in that direct line from the Syria are now forever part of the vanua of Noco and the greater vanua of Rewa.
Ro Teimumu says they are Kai Noco and Kai Rewa.
Meanwhile, the leader of the National Federation Party, Professor Biman Prasad says the traditional lamp or Diya symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance and truth over evil.
Prasad says Diwali is a time of rejoicing with family and friends, a time for prayer and reflection, a time to remember the unfortunate, the sick and elderly.
Prasad says the NFP is also concerned with the high cost of living, the decline of the sugar industry, the devastating effects of Tropical Cyclone Winston that has resulted in many people being homeless, cyclone victims forced to eat wild food, the state of the public health system and rising unemployment amongst other things.
He says that he is also concerned about sections of the constitution and the Media Decree.
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