Hindu faith-based organisations are happy with the Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s decision to lift the restrictions on the use firecrackers on Diwali night.

Diwali night is on Sunday, October 30.

Fiji Sevashram Sangha’s secretary, Akhilesh Prasad, said: “We are very happy by this decision made by the Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

“We are so thankful to him. Diwali is one of the main festivals for the Hindus and firecrackers are part of Diwali celebrations.”

Shree Sanatan Dharm Braham Sabha Fiji, central president pundit Binesh Sharma said: “We are very happy with this decision by the Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.”

“Firecrackers are part of Diwali celebrations.

“Hindus play with firecrackers to welcome our Lord Rama who returned to his kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile after killing demon Ravan who captured his wife Sita,” he said.Pundit Sharma said at the same time people should be very cautious while playing with firecrackers.

Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji, president, Arun Padarath, said: “This is a great initiative by the Fijian Government and we are thankful to them.”

An earlier Government decision to limit the use of fireworks on the day of the Diwali Festival – Sunday 30 October – has been reversed after representations to Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.

Firecrackers can now be used between 5pm and midnight on both Diwali Day itself (Sunday,

October 30) and on the Diwali Day public holiday on Monday (October 31).

On any other days in the lead-up to Diwali and beyond, fireworks may only be used between 5pm to 10pm.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum  said the original decision by the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources that the use of firecrackers until midnight be confined to the holiday Monday was unnecessarily restrictive and against the spirit of the law.

Edited by Maraia Vula

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