Indian Arrival Day is a day of reflection for Indians and the Guyanese community at large, the Guyana Indian Heritage Association (GIHA) says in its message celebrating the occasion today.
"We are an integral part of Guyana's rich cultural diversity and we contribute to the economic, social and political life that shapes Guyana's future," GIHA declared.
"Today we honour the hard work and sacrifices made by our foreparents who built a life for us in a new land distant from their motherland of India. They have handed down to us a rich treasure of cultural values and traditions that have lived on and have helped us to deal with difficult circumstances and situations."
But noting that the challenges are far from over, GIHA expressed hope that the spirit and courage that their foreparents had shown in crossing the kala pani into a new world would be a guide while facing the challenges ahead.
The organisation also pointed out that it had been in the forefront of lobbying for an Indian Arrival Day holiday on May 5 to honour the date in 1838 when Indians first stepped ashore here.
And according to GIHA, for government to grant a holiday officially called Arrival Day is an affront to all Indians. The body said it hopes government will ensure that the respective legislation when passed will bear the designation that is respectful of the day's true significance. "To do anything else will indicate contempt for the country's Indian community," GIHA stated.
It also noted that since the arrival of Indians, they have added to the landscape, music, dance, religious life, cuisine and the culture of the country in diverse and positive ways. "All of Guyana is richer for this and today we honour this richness, and a heritage that will continue to be the foundation for our future development in our homeland, Guyana," GIHA added.