President David Granger joined hundreds of Hindus in the sacred observation of Maha Shivaratri, where he underscored the significance of Hinduism in upholding moral values and promoting education.
Hindus all across Guyana on Friday celebrated Maha Shivaratri – a yearly, ritual worship to Lord Shiva.
Hundreds of devotees flocked the Cove and John Ashram and their local Mandirs as they participated in the solemn and sacred veneration of Lord Shiva.
President David Granger joined the Cove and John Ashram in their celebrations
Students of the Hindu College during the Maha Shivaraatri ceremony
where he honoured the arrival of Indians to British Guiana and for implanting Hinduism in its multicultural society.
He noted that the celebrations of Maha Shivaratri are just one of the many ceremonies in the Hindu calendar which honours and remembers critical rights and traditions of the faith.
The Head of State also spoke about the importance of educational teachings through Hinduism, noting that Lord Shiva is the source of enlightenment and the primary impart of wisdom.
“Maha Shivaratri’s significance is to be found in the idea of overcoming the darkness of injustice and ignorance. Although it is a solemn festival, it is associated with both moral and educational enlightenment… Hinduism holds steadfastly to the virtue of enlightenment, it promotes knowledge where these is ignorance, it promotes justice where there is injustice and it promotes equality where there is inequality. It promotes education because it is through education that you overcome ignorance, injustice and inequality,” he expressed during his remarks. He pointed out that Guyana places the highest emphasis on education, noting that education encompasses not just book learning but the imparting of moral values.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, in his address, spoke about the importance of merging education with moral values particularly at a time when a significant portion of the younger generation is going astray.
Both leaders encouraged the ashram to continue its work in providing spiritual enlightenment and education to people as they extend Maha Shivaratri greetings to all Guyanese.Maha Shivaratri, which means the ‘The Great Night of Shiva’ is celebrated in the dark fortnight or Krishna Paksha on the 13th day or the 14th night of Phalguna or Maagha month (that is February or March as per the English calendar). Devotees worship and offer sacrifices to Shivalingam as part of their prayers to the God.
