Hindu Pundits in Trinidad Renew Vows in Public

August 21, 2005

Source: Trinidad & Tobego Express

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article?id=97110642

On August 21, 2005 Trinidad & Tobego Express reported, "This year, on the day of the celebration of Raksha Bandhan (Friday), more than 70 [Hindu] pundits gathered near the Manzanilla beachfront to perform rituals, chant vedic mantras, sing bhajans and make offerings to Hindu deities, amongst other purification rites... 'This is the first time in the history of Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago that this ceremony is being performed in public,' said president of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, Thirbhawon Seegobin, on Friday. 'A secret is unveiled,' Secretary General Sat Maharaj remarked as pundits gathered at Manzanilla to perform the 'Shrawani Upakarma,' a ceremony for the renewal of Brahminical vows. For the past 160 years, this ceremony had been done in private."