THE large Guyanese Hindu community in New York observed the annual, auspicious festival of Shivraatri last week. Shivraatri is one of the most important festivals of Hinduism glorifying Lord Shiva, who is known as the Destroyer in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector and Preserver), and Shiva. For Hindus, Shiva is the lord of all things in the universe, including its originator. People streamed by the hundreds into Guyanese temples in New York during the evening as it was a night celebration. There are dozens of Guyanese temples all over the city.
Shivraatri is observed in the evening (last Sunday and Monday) but puja is also performed the following morning before sunrise.
All of the Guyanese temples in the New York metro area were jam-packed with worshippers in a long line waiting to perform oblations to the Murthi of Lord Shiva. Devotees kept vigil all night singing praises and offering supplications to the Lord. Shiva is worshipped to ward off dangers and evils assailing mankind.
Elaborate pujas were also conducted at the homes of devout Hindus throughout the NY metropolitan area. Devotees prayed with utmost reverence (bhakti) to the Lord seeing God in everything around them.
On Shivraatri, people attempted to reach the pinnacle of divinity through meditation and concentration in their prayers chanting OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA. The lord bestowed auspicious blessings in abundance on devotees who prayed and chanted the mantra with sincerity. It is believed Shiva makes the devotees immortal through their genuine prayers.
According to Hindu scriptures, anyone who fasts on Shivraatri prostrating to the Lord would gain salvation. Thus, many Hindus fasted and visited the temple to perform pooja.
The day is so auspicious that Shiva sheds grace on anyone who even accidentally and unintentionally utters or listens to his name. Just attending temple is rewarded with blessings. Worshippers of Shiva gain longevity of life, success, and prosperity in all fields. And through bhakti, one learns to conquer evil qualities such as laziness, restlessness and lust which hinder human progress.
Devotees conducted oblations (purification rituals and ceremonies) during the night and at sunrise the following morning.
They meditated and offered flowers and prasad (mahamboog, fruits, sugar cane, anar, among others) to the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lingham was bathed with dhar (mixture of curd, milk, honey, sugar, cloves, tills, and other sweet spices) and smeared with all kinds of paraphernalia (sandal paste, sendur, and chandan).
Fire glowed eternally in the havan kund as devotees made offerings of samagri and other paraphernalia. Incenses (agarbati, gugul, cloves, camphor, Kasturi) were burnt as offerings and havan was performed. Devotional songs were sung with the pandits delivering a discourse on Lord Shiva.
Bliss, piousness and peace pervaded the temples as one can hear the pandit rattling his verses and worshippers paying obeisance. The long lines of worshippers offered jaal or holy water from the Ganges on the Shiva Lingam (stone).
Shivraatri has become a routine celebration in New York among the large Guyanese Hindu population.