The Light that Unites Mauritius, According to Dharam Gokhool

As Divali approaches, with preparations in full swing and oil lamps already shimmering in some courtyards, Mauritius is getting ready to celebrate one of its brightest nights. Each flame seems to whisper a silent prayer: one of hope, knowledge, and peace.

The President of the Republic, Dharam Gokhool, sees Divali, or Deepavali, as more than just a religious celebration. To him, it is a timeless symbol and a universal message. "Deepavali conveys a timeless and universal message that transcends religion and culture. This celebration reminds us that the eternal virtues of knowledge, truth, and compassion always dispel the shadows of ignorance, fear, and division," he stated during the celebration organized by the Gahlot Rajput Maha Sabha in Arsenal on Friday.

Around him, ministers, dignitaries, and families mingled in an atmosphere that was both solemn and joyful, including Shakeel Mohamed, Minister of Housing and Land, and Avinash Ramtohul, Minister of Information Technology, Communication, and Innovation.

Divali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. While this festival has its roots in Hindu tradition, it has long since detached itself from any strictly religious framework in Mauritius. Each year, it becomes a moment of national communion, a space where beliefs and cultures converge. This universality is what President Gokhool emphasized: "Every lamp we light is not just a ritual act but a conscious reaffirmation of our inner resolve to bring forth goodness within ourselves and to radiate it around us."

In a world where fear, misinformation, and divisions extend like persistent shadows, these words resonate with a new intensity. The head of state invites us to see each diya not merely as a ritual but as a gesture of awareness: an act of luminous resistance.

Dharam Gokhool's speech also reflected on Mauritian identity, on the diversity often cited as exemplary. "We need to place greater emphasis on unity in diversity, meaning we should move from multiculturalism to interculturalism."

The nuance is subtle but decisive. It is no longer just about living side by side but about weaving connections, crossing traditions, sharing meals, music, and rituals. "The true construction of a nation requires us to take a step further, from multiculturalism to interculturalism: we must stop merely coexisting and begin to live in authentic sharing, dialogue, and mutual understanding."

In this vision, interculturalism becomes a living dynamic, a permanent dialogue. The glue of a nation, he says, does not lie in the juxtaposition of differences but in the patient construction of bridges.

A Light for All

Before joining the celebration in Arsenal, Dharam Gokhool marked Divali with two ceremonies at the State House. In a more intimate setting, he shared the light with his staff, diplomats, and representatives from various communities. These simple, sincere, and authentic moments reflect his philosophy: the light of Divali belongs to everyone.

Through this gesture, Dharam Gokhool reaffirms that the festival is not limited to prayers or decorations. It manifests in everyday gestures, in the attention given to others, in silent kindness.

"The construction of a nation," he insists, "requires the participation of all." Every citizen, according to him, is a craftsman of this collective unity. "We may have arrived on different ships, but we are now in the same boat, and we must row together." This metaphor reflects the island's history of migration and mixing, as well as its present: a society striving to reconcile memory and modernity, heritage and openness.

"Divali reminds us that the most important light is the one we carry within ourselves." This thought weaves throughout his speech like a golden thread. Divali is not just a moment of spiritual fervor: it is a collective introspection. Lighting a lamp means igniting a consciousness: that of tolerance, solidarity, and sharing.

In closing his address, President Gokhool delivered a note of hope. "The true beauty of our Republic lies not only in the richness of our individual traditions but in the light that unites us and continues to shine through our daily actions."