The Hindu community in Tarouba has been left shocked and outraged, after vandals infiltrated the sacred Ramleela grounds and set ablaze the effigy of the demon King Ravan, a central element of the Ramleela celebrations now in full swing across the country.
Ramleela is a dramatic re-enactment of the Ramayana (one of the Hindu epics) and takes place over 10 days. Usually, Tarouba has the grandest celebrations, which attracts hundreds of people.
The ritual burning of Ravan was scheduled for Sunday night, but the miscreants sneaked in during the early hours of yesterday morning to commit the act of vandalism.
Speaking to Guardian Media, spokesperson Andre Bunsee expressed deep disappointment at the act, saying this was a blatant disrespect to Hindus.
“We feel very disheartened. This is sleepless nights. A lot of long hours go into this. Children help us build it and to think someone could just come here and burn it, this is really disheartening,” Bunsee said.
Bunsee recounted that a tent had been stolen from the grounds on the second night of the celebrations, prompting increased vigilance.
He said he went to sleep during the early hours of yesterday and was awakened by the sound of dogs barking. He said apparently when the vandal fled, the dogs became alerted.
While police are investigating the incident, councillor for the area, Theresa Lynch, called on the public to assist the police in solving the case.
“This is not fair to them, so let us work together to help the police bring justice to this case,” Lynch said.
She noted that the Ramleela festivities were a community venture which many people looked forward to.
Meanwhile, Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha general secretary Vijay Maharaj said there were five incidents of vandalism in places of worship for this year, three of which occurred in SDMS temples.
Condemning the Tarouba vandalism, Maharaj said: “Such incidents undermine the sanctity of our religious and cultural practices and are deeply distressing and unacceptable.”
He urged the TTPS to consider enhancing security measures and increasing police presence at places of worship and at religious festivals, including the ongoing Ramleela celebrations and upcoming Divali celebrations.
“Safety and security are paramount in ensuring that all individuals can practice their faith without fear or intimidation. Religious and cultural diversity is a cornerstone of Trinidad and Tobago. All religious and cultural events must be respected and protected,” he said.
Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee also condemned the attack.
“I am calling on the authorities to ensure justice by taking action against those responsible. I ask that all communities and groups join with the people of Tarouba to rebuke such hateful actions, which have no place in our multicultural society,” Lee said.
Addressing the matter at yesterday’s UNC media briefing in Port-of-Spain, Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said there seems to be a complete breakdown of discipline.
“There is a complete collapse of institutions. Regrettably, in the last few hours, we had a dramatic depiction of this lack of tolerance and appreciation. I join with our Parliamentary colleague David Lee in condemning what happened in the last few hours in Tarouba in the constituency of Pointe-a-Pierre.”
Other acts of religious vandalism
On September 10, vandals smashed parts of the Williamsville Hindu Temple but strangely left the murtis and the precious jewels adorning them intact.
On September 22, worshippers at the Lakrani Ganesh Mandir at Gopie Trace, Penal, discovered that the temple was broken into from the back door. It was found that a Ganesh murti was broken and clothes were pulled out from other murtis.
On September 28, a Kali Mata temple in Carli Bay in Couva was vandalised and desecrated by unknown vandals. The vandals damaged the murti of Hindu Goddess Kali and left a message on the walls of the temple which said: “Read Exodus 20:3-4”.
