The Tobago Hindu Society has received donation of Lord Ganesh Murti, harmonium and dholak as a gift from the Indian High Commissioner, Arun Kumar Sahu.”
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The occasion was the Society’s annual Phagwa (Holi) celebrations. “On behalf of the High Commission, I will be gifting a brass idol of Lord Ganesh, a dholak and a harmonium for the youths of the community. Of course, this is symbolic. Hindus always invoke Lord Ganesh for any noble work to progress smoothly. I hope the Temple goes on without much hardships,” he said as he made the presentation to Ms. Pulwaty Beepath. president.
The Temple will be the first such facility for Hindus in Tobago, as the Hindu Society has been in existence over 30 years, hosting principally Indian Arrival Day and Divali celebrations at various locations on the island.
Ms. Beepath praised former Tobago Chief Secretary, Orville London, who played a major role in granting them four lots of land in 2014 to construct the island’s first Hindu Temple. The sod turning took place on February 12.
She pointed out that the organization also distributed food hampers during the Covid 19 pandemic in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Indian High Commission.
Ms. Beepath recalled the Society hosed several fund-raising ventures both in Tobago, and in Trinidad, and special praise to the National Commission for Self-help for funds to embark on the construction. The Temple is projected to be completed in 2023.
New Tobago Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine, could attend, but was representative by Assistant Secretary in the Division of Community Development, Youth Development, Wane Clarke.
The Chief Secretary’s statement read in part that it is critical that citizens appreciate the country’s various cultures in order to broaden their perspectives and connect with their fellow men with a greater level of respect and understanding.
Augustine noted that Phagwa, the Festival of Colours, celebrates the triumph of good over evil, light, health and bountiful harvest and fertility.
By PARAS RAMOUTAR