–as Minister McCoy highlights important pillars of national developments

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, last evening joined devotees at the Shri Satya Mandir in Grove, East Bank Demerara, for Navratri Satsang, where he encouraged Guyanese to embrace self-reflection and spiritual renewal as essential elements of national development.

Last evening marked the first of nine days of Navratri, an observance of the Hindu faith honouring the goddess, Durga.

Addressing the gathering, Minister McCoy said the Navratri season offers an opportunity for “self-reflection and spiritual cleaning of the body,” and that it also lends to “the removal of hate, greed, lust and replacing it with love, contentment, respect and harmony.”

He noted that such inner work strengthens both individuals and society.

The Minister highlighted the universal values embedded in Hinduism, observing that “the values and principles of Hinduism, like other religious teachings, promote tolerance, understanding and unity.”

He urged citizens of all faiths to “build a society with lasting bonds to multiculturalism and interfaith harmony as we work towards the construction of a sustainable society and future all together.”

McCoy reminded the devotees that national growth must go beyond infrastructure and material gains.

He said: “Our development as a society must not only be about huge buildings, other infrastructure and materialist gains. But also a highly respectful, tolerant society with each of us playing supporting roles to the less fortunate, persons living with disabilities, and everyone who desires our shoulders, compassion, love and understanding.”

He concluded that such an approach is “the formula for lasting peace and unity, and the example for the rest of the world.”