THE some 50 Guyanese temples in the New York (NY) area were quite busy over the last nine evenings celebrating the auspicious Hindu festival of Navratri. The pandits were also quite busy as this is the period for poojas to be performed in the homes of Guyanese. Liberty Avenue was busy with shoppers purchasing items for poojas. The temples were packed for their nightly service during what is regarded as the holiest period for Hindus and it comes right after Muslims completed their month of fasting. Worshippers were dressed in traditional garb – girls in beautiful colorful Shalwars and Lehangas and men/boys in kurthas and Nehru suits.

Many Hindus commenced their fast at the time of Pitri Paksh on September 4 which ended on September 18. Some fasted only for a few days and continued with Navratri which began right after Pitri Paksh and concluded on September 29. This is the period when Hindus pay obeisance to the universal mother for their many achievements. They glorify Mother because she is responsible for who they are as a people and the way they live.

Navratri involves a lot of fasting and sacrifices for a renewal of life. It helps people to re-focus on the basics of life and to concentrate on Godhead. Navratri is associated with the propitiation of the feminine aspects of the Almighty although in Hinduism, the lord is neither male nor female. Hindus pay obeisance to both male and female murthis representing their God or Goddess – no discrimination between the genders.

The late Pandit Gossai says, “Navratri commemorates the rapid spiritual gross of an individual from d ead negatives to the highest positive”. He added that “we must see our own mothers as the manifestation of these attributes of the universal mother and make every day navratri and worship our mother as Goddess Durga, Latchmi and Saraswati”.

Guyanese Hindus are to be applauded for holding on to their religious beliefs in NY. They continue with traditional practices they brought from India some 171 years ago. In spite of the difficulties of life in NY, they still find time to visit their temples and to conduct poojas at home. The same holds true for Guyanese Muslims who fasted during Ramadan and celebrated Eid.

Temples around Queens were packed with worshippers during the nine nights of Navratri. People were observed praying during this period with great fer vor and devotion. Some offered jaal in their yards to the Sun God. Many conducted jhandis or other poojas with newly planted flags fluttering in the wind in front of their homes just like in Guyana. On the final evening when little girls representing the Devis in Hindu worship were honoured. It is an extremely pretty festival highly inspiring and instructive on how to live. Homes and temples were beautifully decorated. Sweet smelling incense came out of stores. During this period, vegetarian food was in abundance in the temples and homes of Hindus. Now, everyone, Hindus and non-Hindus, look forward for Diwali which will culminate the fasting period. A huge Diwali parade is planned.
VISHNU BISRAM