Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 7

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 134

Hinduism in Trinidad
123
remained standing on one leg near the Ramaleela ground. The Mirror of Trinidad criticised those who called god Ramachandra a "Coolie God” and Hanuman a "Monkey God".44
The shows became grander in 1919, 1921, 1924, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1931.41 In the last few decades the Ramaleela has not attracted so much attention due to the advent of Hindi films, specially the religious movies like Ramarajya and Sampurna Ramayana. The political differences among the Indian groups has also led to the cessation of the pageant in some areas. 46
Krishnastami (Janmastami), the birth day of Lord Krishna, has been celebrated every year around August at San Juan in the North and Penal and some other villages in South Trinidad. In some places Krishnaleela depicting ihe main episodes of the life of Krishna is also arranged.
The most popular festival of the Hindu in Trinidad is Divali, the festival of lights, observed around November. It commemorates the home-coming of Rama and his brother and wife to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile. In 1895 a newspaper called it the 'DehwarriAhamawas' (Diwari amawas), a Hindu 'feast' when all the houses and business places were “illuminated with tiny tapers or chirag" (little earthenware bowls filled with coconut oil and lighted cotton wicks), and plantain trees were used in the decorations, the lights being suspended from the leaves.47 In almost every home lights were fixed on the arches and the Shivala of Tunapuna was skilfully decorated. To depict this festival in a bad light the Trinidad Guardian referred to the murder of a girl by an Indian male during this festival.
During the last four decades the Divali has become more a community affair than an individual affair. Besides illuminating the homes organised illuminations are arranged in the savannahs. In 1946 bamboo stands and scaffoldings were put up at the Barataria savannah.48
44. The Mirror, 9 October 1916, p. 9. 5. POS Gazette, 14 April 1921, Port of Spain Gazette, 23 Jan. 1931,
p. 5. Trinidad Guardian, 10 August 1935. 46. Klass, op. cit., p. 159. 47. POS Gazette, 27 Oct. 1897; Also see Trinidad Guardian, 11 Nov.
1934. 48. Trinidad Guardian, 19 Oct. 1946, p. 3,