While most of Trinidad and Tobago prepared for the vibrant Carnival festivities, the Hindu community observed Maha Shivratri, the “Great Night of Shiva” on Sunday.
Shiva is a Hindu deity symbolising transformation, regeneration of the universe and the one who helps navigate change.
Pundit Shiva Janak Maharaj explained the significance behind the Maha Shivratri observance.
“It really is the celebration of the union of Shiv and Shakti. That’s the masculine and the feminine energies of Bhagwan, and celebrating in this way, when we celebrate, we join together, we worship both of them together. For example, the Lingam, which is officiated and we pray to especially on this night, we see that it has the upright part, which is known as the Lingam, and then you have the Yoni, which is the base which holds the Lingam. That is the Shiv and Shakti that union together that makes the full energy of this entire universe, and that is the energy that we worship on this great night of Maha Shivratri.”
Pundit Maharaj added that the event also seeks to cultivate harmony and unity among participants, community members, and the nation at large.
“As we have in our mandir here, we have the Shiv Parivar for the whole family of Bhagwan Shiv, and here we have showing that that family unity and that family harmony must start at home, and that harmony will then go out into their villages, into your country, into the entire world, that harmony will continue to spread.”
The celebration began on Sunday and ended on Monday morning.