‘Hindu Night’ attracts thousands

Aug 29, 2008 News

The National Stadium at Providence was the scene of a massive cultural explosion of Hindu art, dance and song, on Wednesday night.
The local Hindu community made its mark on Carifesta X with a grand celebration portraying the way of life of the faithful through devotion expressed in the form of singing and interpretive dancing.
The essence of the show was centred around ‘Bhajan Deepanjali’, a collection of spiritual music in tribute to the various Hindu gods.

One of the many well received performances on Wednesday night at the Stadium

Devotees from Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago joined their Guyanese brothers and sisters in their chantings to appease the deities – Lords Hanuman, Rama, Krishna, Shiva and Vishnu, to name a few.
The godly atmosphere of the event transcended to the external perimeters of the stadium, where a variety of Hindu idols, instruments and wares used in worship were displayed.
The exhibition also included the mounting of prominent Hindu fashion and wear, including jewellery.
True to Hindu tradition, the abundant food on sale was strictly vegetarian. Yet revelers flocked the stalls to partake in portions of the ‘seven curry’, a special Hindu meal offered at religious ceremonies, such as ‘jandhis and kathas’.
A special aspect of the cultural programme was the performance of a dramatic play, ‘Ram Leela’, based on the story of the Ramayan, one of Hinduism’s religious books. This special feature was performed by actors from Trinidad and Tobago.
A hallmark of the night’s proceedings was the appearance of Shri Prakash Gossai, a renowned Guyanese religious leader and Hindu priest, widely acclaimed for his renditions of sacred bhajans. But at this event the ‘pandit’ chose to break tradition.
He did not sing bhajans, but played songs originating from Indian movies.
With this momentum built up, the crowd went ecstatic as the popular vocalist rendered two well known songs from Hindi movies, which he translated into the English language.
The songs, he explained, call for love and kindness among mankind. They speak about the importance of the need for every human being to support each other and to make, ‘a better world for all of us’.
Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, who spearheaded the organization and mobilization of the grand event, addressed the gathering, giving insights of Hinduism and the role it plays in the advancement of the world.
‘Hinduism is not only a religion, it’s a way of life that calls for strict adherence to duty. The philosophy of Hinduism is deeply rooted in the struggle to better the lives of people and to serve humanity.”
Also addressing the massive crowd was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, who said that it is now an established fact that the Hindu community, together with other religious communities, has an integral role to play in events such as Carifesta.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, who was present at the divine occasion, in his remarks thanked the Hindu community for their participation in this year’s Carifesta and reminded those present of the rich legacy of the Hindu faith. The President, himself of a Hindu background, said, “We as Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma, and therefore our religion compels us to do good for all of mankind. We have to take strength from our history and be prepared to face both good and bad times on our journey to make our nation strong.”
He added, “We have the remnants of some of the most ancient traditions of the world, from India, Africa, China, and elsewhere. This is what makes Guyana so culturally diversified and this speaks of what a people Guyanese are.”
Speaking of the need for harmony, the President expressed appreciation that members of the Muslim community were also present at the ceremony.
In customary Hindu style, the ‘arti’, a ritual, signaling the end of a Hindu religious ceremony was performed.