PORT-OF-SPAIN, TRINIDAD/TOBAGO, April 11, 2021 (HPI by Paras Ramoutar): Amidst the dreaded Covid-19 Pandemic, Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago, as indeed, the world over, are observing the Hindu religious of observance of Navaratri, Monday April 12 for a nine day period, followed by Ram Navami on April 21, and Lord Hanuman Jayanti on April 26. Navaratri holds a deep spiritual and cultural significance to Hindus. Hindus always pray for their fellowmen regardless of their ethnic or cultural or economic status. We pray and seek the blessings and guidance of Mother Durga, Mother Lakshmi and Mother Saraswati to bestow blessings that would bring peace, progress, health, wisdom and prosperity to all of us.
Navaratri has been, and continues to be one of the most regarded and followed in our country. Hindus in Trinidad and Tobago always remember and focus on our forefathers who brought with them religious traditions like the Gita, the Ramayana, the Upanishads, the Durga Chalisa and the Hanuman Chalisa, among several other religious texts which continue to provide spiritual guidance and solace to a tortured and weak humanity. As we observe these nine days of benediction to Mother Durga, Mother Lakshmi and Mother Saraswati, let us always be minded of our presence to Mother Earth, and that is to do good, speak good and to pray for all mankind. We pray that Mother Durga, Mother Lakshmi and Mother Saraswati continue to bless us all, and our nation and our leaders be guided to lead our land from knowledge to wisdom, from untruth to truth, and from darkness to light. Because of the new spike in Covid-19, all observances are low-profiled to avoid mass public gatherings.