Cove and John Swami talks about the blurred lines of religion and tradition

THE Cove and John ashram is as peaceful as it is beautiful. Located in the far end of the village and existing for more than 20 years, the organisation has become a pillar of the multicultural community it calls home. As the Easter season quickly approaches, Guyanese are ready to celebrate and commemorate as they always do: vibrantly, larger than life, and in unity. Guyana is the embodiment of cultural togetherness, with everyone celebrating countless religious holidays, and Easter is no different. The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with Swami Shivshankar Ananda to discuss what makes a holiday and what makes a tradition, and why both are celebrated so deeply by Guyanese.

The Swami and the Community
The community of Cove and John is like the majority of Guyanese communities in its emphasis on religion. The diverse community and its surrounding counterparts are home to temples, churches, and mosques. The Cove and John Ashram is among the largest in Guyana and has an accompanying school. The organisation was established in 1956 and has been an integral player in the community since its inception.

Swami Shivshankar is the spiritual head of the establishment. He is dedicated to his life and to what he calls serving humanity. Many of his beliefs are founded on one major principle, which is the principle of peace. This principle of peace has become the core message of his teachings to his students as well as to members of the community. As he shared, “I came here on February 20, 1994, as a young man to pursue my yearnings, my desire to live this life. Before I came here, I had been living very much outside. This organisation gives me an opportunity. So, I heard about this great organisation and I decided to come and join it. Today, after undergoing many trainings over the years, I have established myself here. By the name of it, continue your legacy. Continue the work of my teacher, my guru. I am very proud to be here.”

The people of the village of Cove and John are a culmination of persons from surrounding villages far and wide. This has given rise to the rich cultural vibrancy the village has today. Cove and John residents are also very supportive, giving aid to each other and crafting a gentle, friendly relationship among people. The Ashram has noted this and has the same relationship with the community, especially the community’s youth. “Hindu College is a college. It’s an institution for all, despite your ethnicity, your religious background, or where you come from, we embrace all because we stand for education and to help those individuals to develop themselves. Education transcends all, despite your ethnicity, your background, whatsoever,” said the Swami.

Easter in Guyana
As the kites take the sky and families come together once more, Easter in Guyana will undoubtedly be an explosive occasion. Although the Christian holiday has a religious aspect, it has also given rise to countless traditions. Throughout the years, Easter has become every bit as traditional as it is religious. Speaking on behalf of the religious aspect, the Swami stated its importance to spiritual people alike, sharing that, “Easter, we will be celebrating Easter a few days from now. It’s an occasion that marks the arising of Jesus Christ. It’s a moment of reflection that brings all together, reflecting within one’s life the quality one possesses. The mark of Jesus Christ rising after three days reminds mankind of the quality he possesses within, that each and every one of us has that divine quality.”

Stating further, he encourages Guyanese everywhere, regardless of religion, to rise above negativity and to collaborate as we always have. He stated that, “We can all rise above the negativity and the darkness in our life and establish ourselves with righteousness. Easter reminds us of righteousness. Arise above the negativity, arise above unrighteousness, and establish ourselves with righteousness. So, it reminds mankind that he needs to remind himself that within his being there is divinity.”

Our people and how we come together is just one of the things that makes Guyana the great country it is. We embrace each other and this collaboration has given rise to much development. As the Swami states, “We have embraced all religions, and the Guyanese on the whole have been celebrating without any regrets because Guyanese have grown to be very mature, very respectful, very loving, and very kind. And they have that religious tolerance to one another in this country.”

He further added that, “We are proud to be one Guyanese, one Guyana, in this beautiful country of ours that we embrace all. And we will participate, we will celebrate in the occasion. And despite our beliefs, despite our faith, we respect one another, we love one another, we show that tolerance. And with that in mind, we grow together spiritually, economically, physically. We mature together, we grow together. And in such a community, in such an atmosphere establishing in Guyana, we can grow together and we can be able to achieve our goals together.”

Guyana’s cultural diversity and unity are unique. Throughout the decades, we have erased many lines of cultural segregation, and no time is that more on display than at times like Easter. As the Swami stated, “If we can have that tolerance, compassion, and love for one another, we will grow spiritually, not only for ourselves but collectively we can grow. And that quality between all of us on these occasions is there to remind us of these qualities we possess and we should be able to reach out to one another during this time and share those good qualities that we have and let us grow spiritually together. I want to wish all of our Guyanese brothers and sisters a Happy Phagwah, a Happy Easter, and all the best for the Ramadan period also.”