Hanuman idol perched atop pole in Trinidad and Tobago
By Paras Ramoutar, IANSTuesday, February 8, 2011
Port-of-SPAIN - A massive idol of Lord Hanuman perched atop a pole has been unveiled in Trinidad and Tobago.
The idol was unveiled by Minister of Education Tim Gopeesingh at the Todds Road Hindu Temple in central Trinidad. Rudy Indarsingh, a minister, was present.
The idol, 12 feet long and 24 feet high, in a flying position is perched on a pole.
Abhedanand Persad Sharma, a priest, led the prayers.
There are 500 Hindu temples in Trinidad and Tobago whose Indian diaspora equals 44 percent of the population of 1.3 million people. Some 24 percent are devout Hindus. About 148,000 Indians came here between 1845 and 1917 to work on the sugar plantations, principally from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Gopeesingh spoke of “the need for reverence to the message and works of Lord Hanuman to Lord Rama and to mankind as well”.
The idol was donated by Harinarine Persad and his children Vivikananad, Varune, Valinee and Veda in the memory of his late mother, Basso Persad.
Harry Persad and sons’ Caribbean Vibrationz Indian Orchestra sang religious songs.
Some 10 years ago, an 85-feet tall Lord Hanuman idol was installed at the Dattatreya Centre at Carapichaima in central Trinidad.
(Paras Ramoutar can be contacted at paras.r@ians.in)
