Dear Editor,
Guyanese and other Hindus in New York thronged to Mandirs in the State to observe the auspicious festival of Maha Shivratri on Monday night.
There are over 50 Guyanese Mandirs in New York and nearby areas.

Shivratri is called the Great Night of Lord Shiva and is observed annually on a day/night as per the moon in the month of February/March. This is not to suggest that Shiva is worshipped only on this day as the Lord can be worshipped on any day/night but an auspicious day has been set aside annually for the exclusive worshipping of Shiva, who Hindus consider as the fountain of all cosmic energy and power.

Lord Shiva is known as the Destroyer in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector and Preserver) and Shiva. Shiva is also the consort of Goddess Parvati (Mother of the Universe) and father of Lord Ganesh (who showers abundant knowledge upon devotees).

Shivratri is one of the most important festivals of Hinduism and Hindus fasted and flocked to Mandirs with pandits presiding over service amidst bhajan and kirtan singing. In India and the East, Shivratri was observed on Tuesday because of the positioning of the moon. Shivratri is a public holiday in India and a few other countries.

Shivratri is an evening festival of prayers to propitiate Lord Shiva although some devotees made offerings in the course of the day. Some mandirs hosted services beginning at 06:00 hrs on Monday and continuing thru Tuesday morning. Some devotees spent the entire night at the Mandir while some Mandirs closed off service when all the worshippers finished their offerings.

Shivratri worshipping in New York is similar with that in Guyana and other parts of the Caribbean with people making offerings to Shiva’s Lingham, an emblem through which the lord is propitiated. Devotees offered jaal (specially prepared milk and/or water with various spices, curd, honey, and other ingredients) and bael leaves in the day or at midnight followed by Aartee.  Agarbatie is also lit. Prasad (mohanbhog, fruit) is also offered.

The pandits explained that Shiva is worshipped to ward off dangers and evils assailing mankind. Devotees pray with utmost reverence (bhakti) to the lord. Devotees attempt to reach the pinnacle of divinity through meditation and concentration in their prayers on Shiva chanting Om Namah Shivaaya.

The scripture says that anyone who fasts on Shivratri prostrating to Shiva would gain salvation.  Just by attending temple or thinking of the Lord, devotees are rewarded with blessings, gaining longevity of life, success, and prosperity in all fields. Thus, thousands flocked to the temples and conducted ritualistic poojas, meditation, singing and chanting of verses from the Shiv Purana scriptures. Bliss, piousness and peace pervaded as the pandit conducted

ceremonies.
Worshippers performed non-stop jaal and aartees on the Shiva murthi and the lingham and performed havan (feeding of the fire with small pieces of wood and various spices). Fire glowed eternally in the havan kund. At the conclusion of rituals and ceremonies, attendees were treated to sumptuous dinner and prasad.

Yours sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram