Author: Paras Ramoutar
Publication: Thaindian.com
Date: August 28, 2009
URL: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/ganesh-chaturthi-celebrated-in-trinidad-and-tobago_100239406.html
Thousands of Hindus thronged temples across
Trinidad and Tobago to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with devotees observing
fast and chanting Vedic hymns.
Earthen idols are prepared and devotees here
pay obeisance to Lord Ganesha. After Ganesh Chaturthi ends, the idols are
immersed in the river or the sea.
Ganesh Utsav, which began Aug 23 and ends
Sep 3, is also being observed by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS).
Pundit Doodnath Rampersad, spiritual leader
of the Vishwanath Hindu Social and Cultural Organisation, said that his temple
"observes Ganesh Ustav as an annual ritual and as one passes by, plans
are put in place for the incoming one".
Hundreds of devotees join the parade from
Sangre Chiquito, Sangre Grande to the Valencia river where the Ganesh idol
is immersed.
Late Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyswami, in his
book "Dancing with Siva" said that Lord Ganesh is the deity who
helps souls out of the abysmal pit and adjusts them to higher consciousness
after due penance has been made, guiding them on the right path towards dharmic
destiny.
People of Indian origin constitute nearly
40 percent of the 1.3 million population of Trinidad and Tobago. Their ancestors
came here from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar between 1845 and 1917 to work on sugar
plantations.
