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THE East Coast Pandits are once again inviting the general public to participate in the annual three-day shraad for the victims of the Lusignan Massacre, beginning from today and culminating on Saturday. The observances will commence each night from 1900 hours on the lawns of the Gopaul Mandir. As usual, bhojan (food) will be served.
Pitri paksha, (literally “fortnight of the ancestors”) is a 16–lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitrs), especially through food offerings. The period is also known as Pitru Pakshya, Pitri Pokkho, Sola Shraddha (“sixteen shraddhas”), Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha and Apara paksha.
The Lusignan massacre
On 28th January, 2008 gunmen descended in a murderous rampage in the tiny community of Lusignan, slaughtering persons in their homes wantonly – even babies asleep in their beds. Eleven persons were killed that dreadful night, with many others wounded. Subsequent to that mad slaughter, the following year, the East Coast pandits, at the behest of Priest-in-Charge of the Gopaul Mandir, Pandit Haresh Tewari, began an annual shraad to those departed souls, first held on the Lusignan market tarmac. However, from last year the observances have been held in the compound of the Gopaul mandir.
Those who died were: Shazam Mohamed; Clarence Thomas; his son, Ron, 11; daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32; her two children: Seegobind, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56; his daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; and his wife, Dhanrajie, called Sister, 52. Injured were Howard Thomas, 19, Nadir Mohamed, 48, and Roberto Thomas, five.
Pitri paksha, (literally “fortnight of the ancestors”) is a 16–lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors (Pitrs), especially through food offerings. The period is also known as Pitru Pakshya, Pitri Pokkho, Sola Shraddha (“sixteen shraddhas”), Kanagat, Jitiya, Mahalaya Paksha and Apara paksha.
The Lusignan massacre
On 28th January, 2008 gunmen descended in a murderous rampage in the tiny community of Lusignan, slaughtering persons in their homes wantonly – even babies asleep in their beds. Eleven persons were killed that dreadful night, with many others wounded. Subsequent to that mad slaughter, the following year, the East Coast pandits, at the behest of Priest-in-Charge of the Gopaul Mandir, Pandit Haresh Tewari, began an annual shraad to those departed souls, first held on the Lusignan market tarmac. However, from last year the observances have been held in the compound of the Gopaul mandir.
Those who died were: Shazam Mohamed; Clarence Thomas; his son, Ron, 11; daughter, Vanessa 12; Mohandai Gourdat, 32; her two children: Seegobind, four years old, and Seegopaul Harilall, 10; Shalem Baksh, 52; Rooplall Seecharan, 56; his daughter, Raywattie Ramsingh, 11; and his wife, Dhanrajie, called Sister, 52. Injured were Howard Thomas, 19, Nadir Mohamed, 48, and Roberto Thomas, five.
