The resilience of the Hindu faith is being captured in the upcoming opening of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22, 2024.
Hindus across the diaspora will be lighting deeyas in their homes and mandirs to mark this historic moment. In Trinidad and Tobago several mandirs are planning satsanghs, readings from the Ramayan and the lighting of deeyas to commemorate this historic event.
More than 500 years ago this mandir that marks the birth place of Sri Ram was destroyed by Babur, an Islamic invader. The Hindu community never turned their backs on Sri Ram but resisted all along. They kept lighted deeyas on the site and fought several battles which resulted in thousands losing their lives.
After independence in 1947 the Congress Party which took power refused to hand over the disputed site to the Hindu community for fear of losing its Muslim voters.
The BJP which now rules India has always declared on its manifestos its intent to restore the Ram Mandir. Though Hindus form 80 per cent of the population of India, they have chosen the legal way to have the mandir restored. The final verdict of the Supreme Court of India after considering the report of the Archaeological Society of India ruled in favor of the Hindus. This ruling was despite the Congress Party hiring the services of 24 lawyers to argue against the mandir.
Hindu Dharma has always suffered setbacks but never defeat. It only confirms that Hindu dharma has no beginning and hence no end. Everything and everyone with a beginning will die one day, not Sanatan Dharma, the Eternal Way.