President David Granger today urged citizens to promote social cohesion during the Inauguration Ceremony of a 15 ft tall Hanuman Statue at the Blairmont Hindu Temple, West Coast Berbice.
During his address to devotees and special guests of the Temple, the President said with the establishment of the murti, “is a public manifestation of your private devotion, it shows you what you believe inside…(it is) great adoration for lord hanuman and his divine grace.”
He urged the residents of Blairmont to use their religious faith to promote peace, unity and harmony even as the administration continues to work to transform the country into a more cohesive society. He said it is his firm view that the different ethnic and religious groups in Guyana need to develop a greater understanding of each other, so as to fully appreciate the richness of the nation’s diversity and strength of the country as a whole.
“We cannot be strong if we are ignorant. We cannot be strong if we misunderstand each other, but through understanding, we will be better able to combine our energies and our strengths and ensure that our children live in an age of enlightenment rather than n age of darkness,” he said.
He also spoke of the importance of Hinduism in Guyana, which dates back 178 years. It was brought to the country by Indian indentured labourers in 1838 and today constitutes a significant demographic element.
“This magnificent murti of Lord Hanuman is a public manifestation of private devotion. It is a physical expression of a divine spirit. It can be seen far and wide by anyone approaching Blairmont. It is proof that the adoration of Lord Hanuman is widespread. It is a reminder that his own grace is cast over the entire community,” President Granger said.
Meanwhile, officiating priest, Pandit Rajin Lallaram in his remarks said that the erection of the murti must serve as a source of motivation and strength for people as the deal with the everyday challenges that life presents.
“Everyday we awake we are greeted with some trial, some difficulty for which we have to be in the unending process of finding solutions. So today with this establishment of this murti, I am sure that it will give us an opportunity to reflect on the strengths that lie within us and to use that strength, courage, inner will and power to contribute to a better society, a better nation and the world by extension,” Pandit Lallaram said.
Accompanying him was Minister of Social Cohesion, Amna Ally along with devotees of Sri Hanumanji Swami, to witness the “Praanpatishta” or “the giving of life” to the newly constructed Murti.
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by the Minister of Social Cohesion.
Meanwhile, News Room understands that the Murti Temple was built in an effort to make devotion practices and prayers more convenient for Devotees. According to persons at the ceremony, there is one Hanuman Murti located on the West Coast of Demerara, however itb is a hassle to travel from Berbice to the West Coast and also it was their desire to have the “divine grace” of Hanuman be spread throughout the country.
The murti, which stands on a concrete platform immediately next to the mandir, was by a privately owned company, located at Strathspey Village, East Coast Demerara from monies raised through fundraising activities and overseas donors.
Apart from today’s activity, two days of Satsangh will be held at the temple, Giving further glorification to Hanuman.
