Long before Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was envisioned as a "unifying magnet" politically, spiritually and socially, this was a role accorded to her hometown, Siparia. Even before she was born, the La Divina Pastora Church, stood as a symbol of unity. It is here people of all races and religions have co-existed peacefully at Easter time, as they gather to pay homage to one statue, known by different names. La Divina Pastora is the home of the Divine Shepherdess, a manifestation of the Virgin Mary venerated by Roman Catholics as well as by Hindus, who see her as a manifestation of the goddess Kali and call her Soparee Mai (Mother of Siparia).
The unique nature of the devotions continues to be the subject of research by university students and graduates. While these two religious groups are most commonly associated with her, many other people and religions, including Muslims, Buddhists, and indigenous Waraoa Indians, have been known to worship the popular saint. Today, as debate about ethnic imbalance rages on, Siparia, also called "Sand City," will play a unifying role for devotees of Hinduism and Roman Catholicism at the La Divina Pastora Church. Roman Catholics will celebrate Holy Thursday with a Mass in commemoration of the Last Supper and the symbolic washing of the feet of the 12 apostles by Jesus Christ.
Hindu devotees will gather from far and wide to pay homage to Soparee Mai on the morning of Good Friday. Among the devotees are impoverished people hoping for alms from the Hindu devotees and maybe a hot cup of tea, or bowl of soup from the Christians. As they appear before Soparee Mai, devotees make offerings of gold, flowers, money for favours, such as educational success, fertility for barren women, marital success for couples, healing of the sick, proper husbands for young girls and blessings to the poor and needy. When this ritual is over, many Hindu pilgrims go into the church and some even kneel in the pews before the sanctuary and continue to pray.
Believers claim children who were unable to walk or speak have been miraculously healed by the offerings made to the goddess. On Good Friday, little boys get their first haircut on the church grounds and locks of their hair are placed at the feet of the statue as a sign of dedication and offering. While this is taking place, the Catholics observe another ritual, the Stations of the Cross, re-enacting Jesus' walk with his cross to be crucified. Holy Thursday is also known as market day in Siparia, when vendors line the streets selling everything from vegetables for the Good Friday menu, to fast food, toys, plants and even household items. Three weeks from now, on May 14, the Catholic community will celebrate the feast of La Divina Pastora, where the statue will be dressed in white flowing garbs, placed atop a colourfully decorated vehicle and paraded through the streets. This ritual usually follows a special Mass conducted by the Archbishop Edward Gilbert.