A Hindu pandit from central Trinidad says the level of crime in the country is hampering religious worship.
Pandit Vishnu Ramsumair, who spoke with Guardian Media on Tuesday evening when the Felicity Ganesh Utsav Committee held celebrations at Cacandee Road, Felicity, Chaguanas, said crime is a major deterrent to people attending religious functions at night.
Ramsumair said many people are now instead opting to look at religious services online rather than attend events in person because of safety concerns.
However, he said this may not be the best thing, since virtual events keep devotees away from active participation.
He said Hindus will be praying to Lord Ganesh to remove the obstacle of crime.
“If we are to pray as a group for removal, it is to have the hate and the anger (removed) so that crime can find itself at a lower position or a lower ebb in this country.”
Pandit Ramsumair said as much as 20 per cent of his members are not attending night-time services because of the fear of criminal activity.
“It created a fear and that fear, a lot of people have avoided coming out to the night services.”
Ganesh Utsav celebrations culminate tomorrow (September 9), when temples across T&T will participate in the immersion of the clay murtis or statues of Lord Ganesh into the river or sea. Last year, because of COVID-19 restrictions, the murtis were immersed in an above ground pool of water.
Ganesh Ragoonanan, the head of the Festivals Committee, said he expects thousands of people to participate in Central and other parts of Trinidad tomorrow.
Ragoonanan said the immersion of the murti will take place at the Cunupia River, Felicity, next to the Lakan Karriah Cremation Site. Preceding this, there will be a procession through the village, which will take place under police escort.