Correct date for Diwali confirmed

Following much confusion, the date to celebrate Diwali in the country is officially October 22 and not October 23, Public Eye Pietermaritzburg reported.

The confusion arose after the Maha Sabha issued the “North Indian date” as the official day but has since corrected the error.

The South African Hindu Maha Sabha president, Ashwin Trikamjee, issued the later below on the website, confirming that the date had indeed been changed.

Midlands Hindu Society President, Ranjiv Nirghin, said the confusion had arisen due to the arrangement put in place by the Maha Sabha many years ago, where it was decided that the “official” date for Diwali would be alternated each year between that of the Hindu Community of North Indian descent and the Hindu Community of South Indian descent.

This year should have been the “South Indian date” as reportedly agreed on more than a decade ago.

Mr Nirghin added that there was a unanimous agreement that the date for Diwali will alternate each year to accommodate both South and North.