THE Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha, Region 3, held a Symposium on January 24, 2013 at the Leonora Mandir to discuss matters of interest to Hindus. Sixty representatives from 15 Mandirs on the West Demerara attended.

One of the areas of much concern, and shared by all, centred on the poor quality of our pandits’ performances, which impact directly on the poor attendances at Mandirs and the loss of interest in Hinduism. Most of our pandits are not qualified. It should be mentioned that aspirants of other religions have to undergo a period of rigorous training, (between 3-5 years), before becoming priests. Not so with the Hindus.

This has been a sore point of contention for a number of years. I, and many others, have been clamouring for the setting up of a national pandits training programme, involving the input of all religious organisations in Guyana to train, examine and certify pandits.
I even spoke, as well as wrote to the head of a religious organisation on the matter. Needless to say, nothing has been done. For reasons beyond my comprehension I cannot understand the reluctance for the setting up of such an institution. I admit that some form of ‘training’ is being done ‘here and there’, but this is very limited in its scope, and, then again, not many Pandits attend.

The Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha, Region 3, will solicit the views of all Hindu religious organisations on this matter, and the way forward. The Hindu population is growing academically. We cannot afford to have a ‘half-baked’ priesthood. Readers are also asked to express their views.