By Vishnu Bisram

NEW York City Council Member, Nantasha Williams, newly-elected and representing Council District 27, Greater Jamaica and Richmond Hill, on Sunday morning, February 13, lavished praise on Guyanese at the Guyanese Shri Devi Mandir. The Councilwoman was warmly received by spiritual leader Pandit Tillackdharry Seerattan. The mandir is located at 173rd Street, Jamaica. Pt. Seerattan and members of the mandir have been engaged in humanitarian projects in New York as well as in Guyana, Jamaica, India, and other countries.

Going back since 1988 when it was founded, the mandir has been conducting weekly religious services on Sunday mornings. Council Member Nantasha Williams, an African American, graced the mandir with a grand entry, bedecked with a beautiful red sari.

She was welcomed by Pandit Seerattan and other devotees with invocation and remarks. She had come to pledge her support for the renaming of a street after the founder of the mandir, Pandit Laldharry Seerattan of Upper Corentyne who passed away last year.

Pt Seerattan thanked her for visiting the mandir and lauded her support for the organisation’s spiritual and humanitarian activities. She was presented with a plaque in recognition of her support of Guyanese community activities.

Council member Williams was overwhelmed with the love and kindness showered upon her by worshippers. She stated that she practises Hindu meditation and respects the Hindu teachings and way of life.  “Hinduism is one of the oldest religions of the word and teaches ways of daily life, respect for the earth and each other, tolerance, understanding and charity”.

She remarked that CD27, like the county of Queens itself, is a proud district of diversity, the proud home of so many Guyanese and other Hindus and people of other faiths from Guyana, Caribbean and India, and many Guyanese Hindu temples, catering to the spiritual and community needs of residents. She noted that many other religious groups were represented in the district. She also pointed out that over 200,000 Guyanese in NYC celebrate Hindu religious holidays: Diwali and Holi. She said she was supportive of Diwali being a school holiday. Guyanese activists, including this writer, have been lobbying politicians over the last two decades for recognition of Diwali and Phagwah with a school holiday.  The Mayor committed last year to making Diwali a school holiday.

She reminded the congregation of the strong Guyanese political connection of the district. She noted that NY State Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman has roots in Guyana; Congressman Greg Meeks is married to Guyanese Simone-Marie; NYC Council Speaker, Adrienne Adams, is married to a Guyanese. Like other religious groups in CD 27, Hindus and Hindu temples have stepped forward to help the community and beyond during COVID-19.

The mandir and other Indo-Guyanese organisations have been distributing hampers to the less privileged in the county. There are several Indo-Caribbean and South Asian Mandirs and masjids as well as Guyanese churches in the district. She stated that Indo-Caribbeans are very progressive New Yorkers, professionals, educators, businesses, civic and religious organisations.
At the conclusion of service, the congregation was served with a traditional Guyanese bhojan and prasad.