The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes ORTT, has praised Divali Nagar for what she says is its “critical role in transmitting cultural knowledge and customs to a new generation”.
At the time, Her Excellency was addressing the gathering at Divali Nagar in Chaguanas on Wednesday, October 19.
President Weeks noted that a recent media poll on Nagar found that people saw him as an important transmitter of culture.
![NCIC Dance Competition Overall Winner Priya Persad. [Image by SHASTRI BOODAN]](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org/2000/svg' style='width:auto;height:auto'%2F%3E)
NCIC Dance Competition Overall Winner Priya Persad. [Image by SHASTRI BOODAN]
“It is a medium for creating and strengthening traditions and ensuring that our younger generations have the opportunity to learn and honor their heritage,” she said. “Through an engaging display of history and art, patrons young and old are given a glimpse into the experiences and challenges of the intrepid voyagers who landed on our shores beginning 177 years ago, with their rituals and way of life .”
Best Solo Performance Award winner, Amba De Silva. [Image by SHASTRI BOODAN]
Her Excellency said she was impressed and grateful to the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC), which worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to keep traditions alive.
“The spirit of Nagar remained available for public consumption, pandemic or no pandemic,” she noted. “During that period, traditional celebrations were repackaged and delivered in a digital format allowing customers to [enjoy] a fun mix of past shows and live acts. The hard work and commitment of NCIC and its army of volunteers shone a much-needed light in the midst of the COVID-19 darkness that surrounded us.”
NGC’s T&T Sweet Tassa performs at the Divali Nagar event on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. [Image by SHASTRI BOODAN]
According to President Weekes, even though Nagar was on a virtual platform during the pandemic, Nagar’s personal experience is something that can never be replaced.
She noted that while people come to Nagar for various reasons, her reason for coming to Nagar was to watch the dance competition finals. Teasing the organisers, Her Excellency said if she had not been invited by them on the night of the pageant, she would have come on her own.
Best Group Performance Winners, Bollywood Dance Group. [Image by SHASTRI BOODAN]
The overall winner of the Dance Competition was Priya Persad, who received the first prize of $10,000. Bollywood Dance Group won the $5,000 Best Group Performer award and Amba De Silva won the $5,000 Best Solo Performance award.
