Amerindian heritage month ushered in with prayers at interfaith service

– all religious heads extol contributions of indigenous peoples

ICONIC Indian singer, Mohamed Rafi, sang ‘The world is one’.

And indeed it is. Young Priya Nauth and I, both Hindus, could not help remarking on how similar the chantings to God were yesterday at the Umana Yana by Mr. Linton John and followers of the Halleluiah Faith from Hinterland communities, and Hindus worldwide.


Mr. Linton John and members of the Halleluiah praying for blessings on Dr Cheddi Jagan who introduced the concept of dedicating this month specially to the indigenous peoples of this land, to President Bharrat Jagdeo who sustains the newly-created tradition, to Minister of Amerindian Affairs Pauline Sukhai, and to all the peoples of the nation.

As they ritualistically danced around the mound of earth and the bounties in the shape of plantains, eddoes, fruits, etc, that the earth produce, while they prayed for divine intervention to sustain bountiful crops from mother earth – the words they used, absolutely familiar to Priya and I were “Baba” and “Maia” – the supreme father and the mother of creation.


Hindus refer to patriarchal figures as “Baba” and our Mother Earth is referred to as “Dharti Maia”, and that sense of oneness and similarities of cultural essences was all-pervading throughout the short but extremely moving Interfaith Service by way of which the Amerindian Affairs Ministry chose to usher in Amerindian Heritage Month 2009.

The messages delivered by each spiritual leader of the various faith-based organisations were also similar.


The “Circle of Love” harmonising beautifully as they sang “Lord, I cry”.

Brother Zamid Ally of the CIOG, representing the Muslim community, said that the Muslim community comprises peoples of all ethnicities and that the Holy Koran abhors ethnic discrimination and adjures everyone to live in harmony as all are God’s creation.

Pastor Onesi LaFleur of the Seventh Day Adventist Church sought God’s blessings as our indigenous peoples commence the celebrations of their heritage month.

He recognised their contribution to national development and adjured all Guyanese to move forward together in love for the good of our country.

The musical group, ‘The Circle of Love’, lifted powerful voices together in rhapsodic harmony as they sang ‘Lord, I cry,’ a song of supplication, praise, and hope.

The group is comprised of leader Fenton Park, Charles Griffith, Clayton Hinds, and John Shepherd.

Pandit Brahmanand Prashad, representing the Hindu community, quoted Lord Krishna from the Gita, who told Arjuna that all creation emanates from the Supreme Being, and thus all are His children.

He spoke of the Hindu celebration of PitriPaksh, which begins on 6th September during Amerindian Heritage Month and lasts for the duration.

He explained that this is a period when Hindus pay reverence to their ancestors and adjured Guyana’s indigenous peoples not to forget the contributions their ancestors made to their own and national development.

Father John Persaud of the Roman Catholic Faith spoke of the necessity of all men and women to live in communion with him, among themselves, and with all creation.

Father John referenced the way the indigenous peoples have sustained our environment and made mention of President Jagdeo’s promotion of a strategy to create a landscape where people can, like Amerindian citizens of the land have historically done, appreciate and develop land in harmony with nature.

Pastor Adams said that the Seventh Day Adventist Church began its ministry within Amerindian communities, and from these communities leaders have emerged to spread the message of God’s love everywhere.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.