an Cultural Centre Co. Ltd. (ICC) 2018 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.

(ICC) 2018 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd. (ICC) 2

PRODUCED BY ICC

2018 indocaribbeanpublications.com
Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre (ICC) | Trinidad and Tobago | Volume 19 | Number 2
 Medicinal & Edible Plants
used by East Indians of
Trinidad & Tobago
Kumar Mahabir
This book contains valuable information on sixty-three local plants,
each of which is described and given a botanical name. Their medicinal
uses include arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, headaches, strokes,
impotence, sterility, ulcers and skin infections

1991, 2001. Third edition 2008. xx +167 pp.

5¼ x 8¼ inches. Paperback.
ISBN 976-8001-73-9
TT$100. or US$25.
(includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/

Caribbean East Indian Recipes

Kumar Mahabir
This cookbook represents a comprehensive collection of over 70 tradi-
tional vegetarian recipes. They have been handed down by indentured
immigrants from India by word-of-mouth and practical example for
over four generations. From delightful snacks to dinner-party specials
– each recipe has been kitchen-tested and, therefore, meets a high
standard of accuracy. Some of the dishes are beautifully illustrated in
color to tempt your appetite.

1992. Reprinted 2001, New edition 2009. xx + 120 pp.

5¼ x 8¼ inches. Paperback.
ISBN 976-8012-75-7
TT$100. or US$25.
(includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/
 Divali Festival in Trinidad and Tobago
by Dr. Kumar Mahabir
Trinidad and Tobago - the land of
Carnival, steelband, tassa, calypso
and chutney - is the same country
that produces a unique brand of
Divali to the world. In fact, the annual
Hindu Festival of Lights has become
Trinidad’s largest, national open-air
festival, second only to Carnival.
Divali is a welcome alternative to the
rambunctious indulgence in meat,
alcohol, party and “wine”. The festi-
val is arguably the largest vegetarian,
alcohol-free festival in the Caribbean,
if not the Western Hemisphere. Divali
is an event that the Ministry of Tourism
can market as a major attraction in the
fastest-growing, international market-
place of spiritual tourism.
Divali is one of the festivals which es-
tablishes Trinidad as a multi-religious,
multi-ethnic society. Hindus comprise
the second-largest religious group
(24%) after Roman Catholics in the
twin-island’s population of 1.3 million
people. While Divali is essentially a
Hindu festival, people of all faiths en-
thusiastically celebrate the triumph of
light over darkness, knowledge over
ignorance, and good over evil. The
non-Hindu supporters are attracted to
the festival’s universal message as well
as to the unique festivities which also
provide a clean environment for the
cultivation of a healthy body, mind
and soul.
Only in Trinidad do non-Hindus and
non-Indians actively participate in
lighting over ten million deyas an-
nually during Divali celebrations.
These tiny clay lamps are lit in homes,
yards, streets, offices, public parks
and playing fields. Perhaps only in
Trinidad, one can find split bamboo
The 2005 edition of the ICC magazine on the theme “Temples and
Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago” won an Excellence-in-Journalism Award
tubes transformed into magnificent
works of art on which the deyas are
set. The split bamboo strips reach out
toward neighbouring houses, streets
and communities to symbolise the
popular local mantra “all ah we is one.”
Celebrants are overwhelmed by the
desire to decorate their surroundings
and they take great pride in complet-
ing their task. Multi-coloured and
multi-patterned streamers are made
with kite paper and plastic, and strung
from jhandi  [flag] poles. Brightly
coloured fabric, balloons and bulbs
decorate homes, offices and stages.
Indeed, Divali heralds the joy of the
end-of-year celebrations. Strings of
twinkling lights – clear and coloured –
are strung high on buildings, trees, and
even across streets. Effigies of Mother
Lakshmi are made from bamboo
tubes and large cardboard cut-outs.
Calligraphy on signs and banners glit-
ters with decorative paint. The starry
designs of deyas and bulbs transform
simple houses into magical kingdoms.
The nights are filled with free public
performances in parks and playing
fields. Divali provides the perfect
forum for showcasing both foreign
and local performers’ talent in Indian
song, music, dance and drama. Indeed,
no celebration is considered complete
without a fashion show that is always
eagerly anticipated by all.
Divali is also associated with Ram
Leela/Lila which is, perhaps, the oldest
living form of outdoor folk theatre in
the Caribbean. During Divali, tons of
sweetmeats like parsad, kurma, burfi,
pera, ladoo, jalebi, gulab jamoon and
kheer [sweet rice] are made and dis-
tributed free of charge.
ISSN 1683-4143
VOLUME 19, NUMBER 2
Publisher
Indo-Caribbean Cultural
Centre Co. Ltd. (ICC))
Editor-in-Chief & Chairman
Dr. Kumar Mahabir
Promotions & marketing
Ramona Harripersad
Cover and page design
Preddie Partap
Chief Financial Officer
Mera Heeralal
Indo-Caribbean Cultural
Centre Co. Ltd. (ICC)
Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road,
San Juan, Trinidad and
Tobago, Caribbean
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707
E-mail: dmahabir@gmail.com,
indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
Web:indocaribbeanpublications.com
Copyright
© ICC 2018. All rights reserved. The writing,
artwork and/or photography contained
herein may be used or reproduced ONLY
with written permission of the Chairman
of ICC, or his agents.
Disclaimer
Although all efforts have been made to
ensure accuracy of the contents of this
publication, ICC cannot accept responsibility
for errors, omissions or advice given. The
views expressed in this magazine are not
necessarily those of ICC..
Editorial
Celebrating 18 editions of a leading Divali Festival magazine
The inaugural issue of our Divali
magazine began in 2000 and is still
running strong after 18 continuous
editions. For 18 unbroken years, it has
been produced by the Indo-Caribbean
Cultural Centre (ICC) based in San
Juan in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).
The quality of the other Divali mag-
azine that has survived cannot be
compared to the distinction of the
content and appearance of our annual
publication. Printed in full colour on
glossy paper, the cutting edge of our
special-interest magazine lies in its
visual and intellectual strength.
Our thematic approach is unique.
The selected themes are based on re-
search and analysis that are exclusive
to our publications, e.g. Hindu sects
in Trinidad and Tobago, Paintings on
Hinduism, Janeo: The Hindu student
admission ceremony, and Chatti and
Barahe - 6th and 12th day Hindu child-
birth ceremonies.
Our balanced breadth of content brings
hidden, unknown and marginalised
topics to a public audience as well as
new perspectives to old topics, e.g.
Temples and Tourism in Trinidad and
Tobago; Caribbean Indian Fashion;
and Cultural ecology or, alternatively,
religion and the environment.
Our articles are written in simple
language by our qualified and skilled
editorial team for a popular readership.
The language is simple, but not sim-
plistic because it conceals intellectual
depth and thorough research.
The expectation is that the knowledge
produced in our magazine will contrib-
ute to a better understanding, respect,
appreciation and acceptance of one
Dr Kumar Mahabir,
Chairman, Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd (ICC)
Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Florida (UF)
Former Organization of American States (OAS) Fellow
another in our multi-ethnic society.
Our objective of producing this mag-
azine is also to build and strengthen
bridges between Hindus and other
ethnic groups in the cosmopolitan
Caribbean. An additional goal is to
lift the consciousness of Hindus in their
respective roles and responsibilities as
an ethnic group in a developing society.
Our aim is to nurture an appreciation
of the Hindu heritage in the Caribbean.
Our intention is also to provide a rich
resource for students and researchers
in the fields of Religious Education,
Social Studies, Caribbean History,
Caribbean Studies, Sociology, Cultural
Studies and Anthropology.
The inaugural edition of our Divali
magazine in 2000 promised to take a
new approach in educating the society
about Hindus and Hinduism in Trinidad
and Tobago, and the wider Caribbean.
In many ways, this new approach is
similar to that of Dr. Diane Moore,
senior scholar and the founding di-
rector of The Religious Literacy
Project at Harvard Divinity School
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
She pioneered the field of religious
literacy by rejecting “traditions-based”
methods of teaching religion. She pro-
posed that religion should be studied
through the lens of cultural studies
with the following maxims in mind:
(1) religions are internally diverse,
(2) religions evolve and change, and
(3) religions are culturally embedded.
Religious literacy entails the ability to
discern and analyse the fundamental
intersections of religion and social/cul-
tural/artistic issues. Some of the themes
of our magazine which illustrate these
intersections include: Food culture
and (un)healthy eating, Education in
Hindu Schools in T&T, Visual Arts on
Indian cultural heritage, and Secondary
Schools Sanskritik Sangam Cultural
Competition
With respect to our Divali magazine,
religious literacy means that readers
must be able to better understand the
beliefs, practices and manifestations
of Hindus and Hinduism, as the latter
have been shaped by the social, histor-
ical and cultural contexts of Trinidad
and the wider Caribbean.
Our magazine provides a forum for
photographers, artists, illustrators
and writers to submit their work for
publication. Writers who wish to
express themselves on socio-cultural
issues, current events or other topics,
particularly relevant to Hindus and
Hinduism in the Caribbean, are asked
to submit their material in the form of
articles, commentaries, poems, short
stories, play-extracts, and film and
book reviews.
Our Divali magazine is printed in both
paper and digital formats to reach
the widest readership possible in an
effort to impact the world. Our website
(www.indocaribbeanpublications.com)
is FREE to access and navigate, and
serves as an archive and resource for
all our publications for this and future
generations.
The production of our magazine is a
non-profit educational activity done
as a national public service. Our small
editorial team is dedicated to providing
a professional service to the world.
 Message from the Minister of Community
Development, Culture and the Arts
Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly
As the “Festival of Lights,” Divali conveys an important
message that transcends religions: the necessity of doing
good and bringing light to the world. It encourages all
of us to strive toward becoming better people, no matter
our beliefs. It helps us to remember that we must keep
our minds and hearts open, that we must appreciate the
differences and diversity among us that, together, create
a vibrant patchwork quilt of cultures and religions.
Divali is also a time to celebrate community, family, and
hope for the future.
The Ministry of Community Development, Culture
and the Arts congratulates the Indo-Caribbean Cultural
Centre as it celebrates 19 editions of its Divali magazine,
for continuing to provide a platform for disseminating
knowledge and traditions of the East Indian community, thus sharing knowledge of this
heritage.
These efforts support the Ministry’s thrust to safeguard and celebrate our cultural diversity,
and we are certain that readers, both home and abroad, share in this appreciation.
Our nation is built on its diversity and differences that form a divine tapestry that de-
lights the Creator. We are honoured to celebrate the symbols and traditions of the Hindu
community.
On behalf of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and the Arts, I wish you
all a very Happy Divali.
 I am indeed delighted that the Indo-Caribbean Cultural
Centre is publishing its annual Divali magazine on the
auspicious occasion of Divali. I take this opportunity
to congratulate all members of the Indo-Caribbean
Cultural Centre for dedicating their time and effort
to this valuable publication.
The Festival of Divali is rooted in the history and
culture of India. The Ramayana is one of the two
great epics defining Indian culture and the Indian
way of life.
Divali, based on the epic of the Ramayana, symbo-
lises the triumph of good over evil. Let us work for
enlightenment of hearts and souls so that evil forces
are defeated.
I am confident that your efforts would ultimately lead to what we call
(Let Truth prevail).
I take this opportunity to extend greetings to you and all your readers on this great
Festival of Lights.
I sincerely hope the New Year brings health, happiness and prosperity to one and all.
Shubh Divali

Bishwadip Dey
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2017
Secondary Schools Sanskritik
Sangam Cultural Competition
The most enduring school competi-
tion in the country is the Trinidad and
Tobago Secondary Schools Sanskritik
Sangam Cultural Competition. The
brainchild of secondary school teacher,
Pundit Ashram Maharaj, the Sangam
was officially formed in 1979, 38 years
ago – three years before the advent of
Baal Vikaas. Compared to the T&T
Music Festival and Baal Vikaas, the
Sangam receives the least media cover-
age and, therefore, is not so well-known
although an average of 20 secondary
schools participate annually.
Divali Magazine 2018
8 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
Both the Baal Vikaas and the Sangam
focus on Hinduism and Indian culture.
However, there are some major dif-
ferences: (1) Baal Vikaas includes
primary and secondary schools while
the Sangam is designed exclusively for
secondary schools; (2) Baal Vikaas in-
cludes only Maha Sabha schools while
the Sangam embraces all secondary
schools, even Maha Sabha schools; and
(3) the Sangam has more competition
categories than that of Baal Vikaas.
The competition categories in Baal
Vikaas and the Sangam overlap in the
genres of song, music, dance, story-
telling, quiz and drama. However, the
Sangam has more categories in the
areas of public speaking, debating,
choral speaking, storytelling, essay
writing, poetry writing, short story
writing, drawing, painting and crafting.
The Sangam should consider including
spoken-word poems, stand-up com-
edies and short films in its competitions
with which the Bocas Literary Festival
Committee and the T&T Film Festival
Committee can be partners.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2016
Chatti and barahe – 6th and 12th-day
Childbirth Ceremonies in Trinidad
Hindus perform the most intricate
childbirth ceremony among all ethnic
groups in Trinidad and Tobago. The
sixth-day postnatal chatti ceremony
is both a celebratory and social proc-
lamation of the safe return of the new
mother and her newborn from the perils
of childbirth. Some families prefer to
observe the birth celebration on the
twelfth day, in which case it is known
as a barahe and is of greater magnitude.
This is one of the rare Hindu reli-
gious ceremonies in which a female
[masseuse] officiates. She prepares
Divali Magazine 2018
10 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
and administers a brew made from
the rhizomes of both the hardi and
ginger plants. The masseuse (dhagrin,
maidy) also gives the new mother and
her newborn their first full-body ritu-
alised herbal bath. For several days,
the traditional masseuse massages the
baby and the new mother, and attends
to the maternal abdominal band. The
masseuse also performs other rituals
such as gently tossing the baby into
the air, dragging the newborn in a
scoop (“soop”), applying kajal [lamp
mascara] to the baby’s eyes, and
dotting her forehead (tika) to protect
the newborn from being infected by
najar [evil eye].
In the evening, guests arrive and
are served food and drinks. The cel-
ebrations begin with a long night
of ribald rejoicing when sohar and
chutney songs are rendered in Hindi
and English. The joint participation of
relatives from both sides of the family
emphasizes the importance of birth in
continuing family lines and cementing
family bonds.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2015
Janeo: The Hindu student admission ceremony
Also known as the upanayan samska-
ra, this ceremony is one of the lesser-
known expressions of Hinduism in
Trinidad since it was initially observed
only by the upper caste Brahmins.
The janeo ceremony is also part of an
ancient tradition which has survived
in Trinidad, far away from ancestral
India. The ceremony represents the 10th
of 16 samskaras or rites of passage in
the life of a Hindu.
The ceremony, which usually lasts for
three days, is celebrated lavishly. The
first part of the upanayan ceremony is
Divali Magazine 2018
12 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
called the maticoor. It consists of three
major parts: digging of earth, perform-
ing a pooja [ceremonial worship], and
anointing hardi [turmeric paste] on
the child who will be undertaking the
initiation. Offerings are also made to
the maandar [bass tassa drum] by the
child’s mother. Ear piercing is also
done so that the boy’s hearing will
be more acute to receive the sacred
mantras and teachings.
On the eve of the actual janeo ceremo-
ny (Saturday), coconut oil is applied
to the boy’s head to soften the scalp
for shaving. Hardi [turmeric] is also
pasted on the boy’s skin three times
during the day. While some families
provide lively entertainment for their
guests, others believe that a night in
silence is more beneficial to the child’s
mind in preparation for the ceremony
the next day.
On the actual day (Sunday), the boy
shares a sweet breakfast with his young
male companions. He then changes into
a yellow cotton dhoti [loincloth] for
another pooja [ceremonial worship].
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2014
Visual Arts on Indian cultural heritage
The body of work featured in this
magazine presents various visual
interpretations of Hindu and (East)
Indian cultural heritage in Trinidad and
Tobago. With a total of 26 contributing
artists, this compilation showcases a
mix of established and aspiring visual
practitioners whose works demonstrate
competence and maturity in their re-
spective genres.
As a highly visual religion, Hinduism
is mainly characterised by brightly
coloured and ornamental images of
gods, goddesses and deities. These
and other images have captured the
imagination of artists and other cultural
Divali Magazine 2018
14 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
workers. The artistic exploration of
Hindu and Indian images by artists
take several forms and media which
include drawings, mosaics, installa-
tions, rangoli, mehndi, mixed-media,
conventional and digital paintings, and
three-dimensional designs.
This magazine is a compilation of ar-
tistic works by mainly Indian artists
working on Indian cultural themes.
The truth is that not many Indians in
Trinidad and Tobago are practitioners
of the visual arts. It is important that
this under-representation be addressed.
The presence of non-Indian artists
working on this theme suggests that
they have been exposed to a certain
degree, and have been influenced, by
Hindu and Indian culture.
The visual arts connect the imagination
with human existence often through
paint, pencil and paper. It is a creative
expression of culture that is real or
imagined that taps into a higher aes-
thetic and spiritual appreciation of life.
Visual art itself is a fundamental part
of culture, and as such, enhances the
quality of life.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2013
Ramleela: Free Open-air Folk Theatre
Ramleela is perhaps the oldest living
form of free outdoor folk theatre in
the Caribbean. It definitely holds the
unrivalled record of being the only play
to have been performed at dozens of
venues for over 100 consecutive years
in the region.
Produced by community groups
throughout the country, villagers
all serve without the expectation of
payment. The attractions include the
performances of actors in their glitzy
costumes, their opening parades
through the streets, their rhythmic
Divali Magazine 2018
16 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
stylized dancing, the colourful stage
décor, the spectacular giant effigies,
and the thunderous tassa drumming.
Villagers play the roles of animals,
clowns, humans, saints, gods and
demons through masks, costumes,
props, gestures and body movements.
They do not speak but mime to the
songs and dialogues of a pundit [priest]
who narrates through a loudspeaker in
Hindi and English.
The performance takes place in a large
flat space in a playing field fenced
off by bamboo trunks. The spherical
“stage” allows the crowd to have un-
restricted view from all vantage points.
The final scene of the play climaxes
with the torching of the 30-foot effigy
of the giant demon, Ravan. He turns
into a towering inferno in the dark night
until he totters and comes crashing
down to the ground with thunderous
applause from the audience.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2012
The Brilliance of Indo-Trinidadian Writers
Indo-Caribbean literature is a part of
Caribbean literature that consists of
writing by descendants of Indians who
were brought as indentured plantation
workers from India to the Caribbean,
chiefly to Guyana, Suriname and
Trinidad, from 1838 to the time of
World War 1.
Writing by Indo-Trinidadians comes
out of a natural urge, like that in most
communities, to express their deepest
thoughts and feelings and, in the
process, reach a fuller understanding
of themselves, their society, and their
place in the world.
Divali Magazine 2018
18 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
Out of this background, beginning
with his own short stories in the 1930s,
Seepersad Naipaul and his family even-
tually established themselves as the
first literary dynasty, not only among
Indo-Trinidadians, but among writers
throughout the English-speaking
Caribbean. Seepersad was followed
first by his son Vidia who won distinc-
tion as a novelist and writer of world
stature, Vidia’s brother Shiva who pro-
duced fiction and non-fiction during a
tragically short career, and Seepersad’s
grandson Neil Bissoondath who is today
one of Canada’s leading novelists.
It scarcely needs to be said, but the
Naipauls are not alone. In 1952,
Samuel Selvon’s novel A Brighter Sun
appeared as a landmark literary event
and, in 1956, Selvon’s The Lonely
Londoners virtually invented the genre
of the West Indian diaspora novel.
Ismith Khan too made his mark as
did Harold Sonny Ladoo who, like
Shiva Naipaul, came to an untimely
and tragic end.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2011
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Divali Nagar
After Carnival, Divali is the second
largest open-air national festival in
multi-ethnic Trinidad and Tobago. The
Hindu Festival of Lights is celebrated
by lighting of thousands of deyas [clay
lamps] on decorative designs of split
bamboo tubes. The lights twinkle in the
shadows of free public performances
by actors, models, drummers, dancers,
musicians and singers.
During the days and nights preceding
Divali, non-Hindus and non-Indians
actively join in the celebration by light-
ing deyas, wearing Indian clothes, and
partaking in eating traditional Indian
foods and sweets.
Divali Magazine 2018
20 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
The Divali Nagar in central Trinidad food stalls. There are also educational
has become the hub of all Divali cel- booths providing information about
ebrations in the island. Indeed the alcoholism, yoga, astrology and the
Nagar is the most frequented enter- various sects of Hinduism.
tainment centre in the country during
Divali, second only to the Grand The bazaar [trade fair] also provides a
Stand in the Queen’s Park Savannah perfect forum for showcasing the talent
during Carnival. of both foreign and local performers
in the field of song, music, dance and
Performances take place on a grand drama. The activities culminate with a
stage at the centre of the park for nine magnificent display of fireworks.
nights attracting thousands of local
visitors and foreign tourists. Sales
and promotion booths include a com-
mercial bank, clothes, fabrics, carpets,
electronics, furniture, cars, household
items, and of course a wide variety of
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2010
Hindu sects in Trinidad and Tobago
Hinduism is the major religion
among people of Indian descent in
the Caribbean who reside mainly in
Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and
Tobago. Hinduism remains one of the
oldest living religions in Trinidad and
the wider world.
According to the 1990 official census
data, Hindus in Trinidad form the
second largest religious group in the
country, after Roman Catholics. Roman
Catholics comprise 29% of the popu-
lation, Hindus 24%, Anglicans 11%,
Muslims 6% and Presbyterians 3%.
In a population of over one million,
approximately 238,000 persons
are Hindus.
Divali Magazine 2018
22 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
In Trinidad, Hindus can be further cate- Maha Sabha. Smaller numbers follow
gorised conveniently into sects such as SWAHA which is led by pundits of the
Sanatanist, Arya Samaj, Kabir Panth, Persad family in Aranguez.
Sikh, Shivnarine/Sieunarine, Lord
Murugan, Mother Kali, Hare Krishna, The fastest growing sects are Sai
Sai Baba, Ganapathi Sachchidananda, Baba and Mother Kali. However, the
Radha Madav, Chinmaya Mission and Shivnarine/Sieunarine and Divine Life
the Divine Life Society. It is not a Society have been experiencing a rapid
simple task to categorise Hindus since decline in membership.
they are often open and versatile in
their beliefs, practices and affiliations.
The largest of all these groups is
the Sanatanist, the newest is Lord
Murugan, the most ethnically-diverse
is Hare Krishna, and the most ec-
static is Mother Kali. Most Sanatanist
Hindus belong to the Sanatan Dharma
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2009
Paintings by local artists on
Hinduism in Trinidad and Tobago
This magazine represents an actual
collection of 43 pieces by aspiring
artists, students and professionals in
the country. Sixty percent (60%) of the
paintings were done by children and
40% by adults. Seventy-nine (79%)
of the artists appear to be Indians and
21% seem to be non-Indians, based
on an analysis of their surnames.
Sixty percent (60%) bear Hindi sur-
names, 21% carry Christian/Other sur-
names, and 19% of them have Islamic
last names.
The paintings by adults were obtained
through press releases, gallery contacts,
Divali Magazine 2018
24 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
website searches and e-mail postings.
The pieces by children were sourced
through an art contest organised by the
Maha Sabha which formed part of its
2009 “Baal Vikaas” Children’s Cultural
Festival and Competition. The contest
was coordinated by Annand Ratiram,
principal of Debe Hindu [Primary]
School.
A major difference between the paint-
ings by adults and those by children
is the clear distinction in themes. The
rules of the contest stipulated that
children should submit works on any
theme in the Ramayana, the Hindu
sacred poem written 6,000 years ago.
On the other hand, adults were free to
explore a range of themes. The adults
were also confident in their creativity
to depict Hinduism in the forms of
figuration and landscape in ambiguous
and abstract styles.
The collection of paintings in magazine
format can mirror a display of visual
art images in a public gallery exhibi-
tion. However, a magazine carries the
advantage of allowing one to view the
images at one’s own private place, time
and convenience.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2008
Education in Hindu Schools
in Trinidad and Tobago.
There are a total of 542 primary schools
in Trinidad and Tobago comprising of
54 Government-assisted Hindu primary
schools. These Hindu schools consist
of 43 schools managed by the Sanatan
Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), nine by
the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha (APS/Vedic),
and two by the Kabir Panth Association
(KPA). There are also eight Hindu
Secondary Schools in the country
administered by the SDMS, SWAHA
and Chinmaya Mission. There are also
scores of Hindu Early Childhood Care
and Education Centers.
Today, these schools are a source of
pride to Hindus. The results of the SEA
Divali Magazine 2018
26 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
examination in 2008 reveal that among Lakshmi Girls’ is now ranked third in
denominational institutions, Hindu performance in A’ Levels among all
schools performed the second best after seven-year schools in North Trinidad.
Muslim schools. They also attained Shiva Boys’ Hindu College in Penal
the same level of excellence as private made history by winning two National
primary schools. Hindu schools com- (Open) Scholarships. The Maha Sabha-
prise just 10% of all primary schools managed Hindu college won these
in the country, but secured 22% of the awards for the first time with its first
schools that made it to the top 100 batch of A’ Level graduates.
places in the SEA examination.
Once again, Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu
College occupied pride of place
among prestigious secondary schools
in Trinidad. It secured an impressive
15 National Scholarships in the 2008
CAPE/GCE A’ Level Examinations.
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Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2007
Steps of the Hindu Marriage Ceremony
Marriage is one of the most-impor-
tant of the sixteen samskaras [rites
of passage] in the life of a Hindu. It
is no wonder, therefore, that so many
relatives, friends and well-wishers are
invited to witness the ceremony.
Deities are also invited to witness and
bless the marriage. They are invoked
by the presiding pandits through the
chanting of verses in Sanskrit from
the ancient Vedas.
The marriage does not only establish a
bond between two individuals but also
between two families. It is an elaborate
Divali Magazine 2018
28 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
and lavish affair with numerous rites
and rituals lasting three to four days.
The main ceremony takes place at the
bride’s place under a maro [canopy]
beautifully decorated with electric
bulbs, colourful fabrics and flower
petals. Each step has its own function
and significance.
Before they are wedded, the dulahin
[bride] and the dulaha [groom] must
state their requests. The following are
part of the request of the dulahin:
“If at any time you have to go to [any-
where] ... I desire that you ask and
obtain my consent, and I be allowed
to accompany you, if possible. If at
any time, my parents are in need, you
as my husband are expected to render
assistance to relieve their distress. …
I ask of you now that your love and
affection for me grow as we advance
in age, and that you do not allow the
remarks of any unworthy or dishonour-
able person to cause strife between us.”
Visit Us Today. It’s a Family Tradition. Serving The Nation and Dharma
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2006
The Splendour of Divali: Highlights of the Festival
Trinidad and Tobago, the famed island
of Carnival, is the same country that
produces a unique brand of Divali, the
Hindu Festival of Lights. Where else
would non-Hindus and non-Indians
actively take part in lighting over ten
million deyas [clay lamps] on an auspi-
cious night?
It is perhaps only in Trinidad that one
can find split bamboo tubes trans-
formed into magnificent works of art
on which the deyas are placed. Strings
of twinkling lights - clear and coloured
- are also strung high on buildings,
trees, and even across streets.
Divali Magazine 2018
30 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
Divali is also a forum for showcasing
the talent of both foreign and local
performers in the field of Indian song,
music, dance and drama. Divali also
boasts of Ram Leela which is perhaps
the oldest living form of free outdoor
folk theatre in the Caribbean.
The hub of all Divali celebrations
in the island is the Divali Nagar in
central Trinidad. The grand display
of fireworks in the air at the Nagar
is complemented by the thunder of
bamboo cannons, the explosions of
firecrackers, and the sparkle of “star-
lights” in villages across the country.
Indeed, Divali has become the second
largest national open-air festival after
Carnival. It is a welcome alternative to
the rambunctious indulgence in meat,
alcohol, party and “wine,” and is argu-
ably the largest vegetarian alcohol-free
festival in the Caribbean, if not the
Western Hemisphere.
It is an event that the Ministry of
Tourism can market as a major at-
traction as part of the fastest-growing
world-wide trend of spiritual tourism.
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Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2005
Temples and Tourism in Trinidad and Tobago
The concept of spiritual tourism has
become the new buzzword in the
travel-and-tours circuit all over the
world. This brand of tourism has re-
mained untapped so far in the southern
Caribbean, but has been exploited in the
U.K. by groups like North Yorkshire
Tourism Initiative. Spiritual tourism
has the greatest potential for attracting
foreign visitors outside of the busy
Carnival season.
The target market for this brand of
tourism would be Hindus and Indians
in the United States. They comprise a
total of over two million people, and
are reported to be the fastest-growing
and wealthiest ethnic community in
that country.
Divali Magazine 2018
32 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
Indeed, a special tour can be packaged with protective amulets [jantar] by the
to meet the needs of those who want resident sadhu [Hindu ascetic].
to experience the excursion as a form
of pilgrimage. These types of tour- Temple managers can even invite and
ists must be encouraged to take part facilitate religious groups to host con-
in religious activities, worship their ventions, conferences and retreats in
respective deities, listen to scriptural some of the large buildings at competi-
narratives, chant with the choir of tive rates.
singers, and partake in tasty, sumptu-
ous vegetarian dishes.
If they are interested, they must be
given the opportunity to have their
future foretold before their eyes by the
reading of their palms, or the decoding
of the astrological signs of the Hindu
calendar [patra]. Those who want to
guard themselves from the negative
forces of the unknown must be provided
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2004
Caribbean Indian Fashion
This magazine carries articles on,
and photographs of, local designs of
clothes, jewellery and accessories
that have become an undiluted and
unbroken tradition from India to the
Caribbean for over 150 years.
As a matter of fact, while other influ-
ences have made inroads into language,
food, music and dance, fashion remains
one cultural expression which consum-
ers insist must be authentic in style, and
direct from India. But there are scores
of local artistes who merge East and
West, tradition and modern, and India
and the Caribbean in fabrics that catch
the imagination.
Divali Magazine 2018
34 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
It is without doubt that the Caribbean
Indian fashion industry in on a path of
growth. Indian fashion fairs, exhibi-
tions and shows are now held all year
round and attract a wide cross-section
of society.
Indian garments, jewellery and ac-
cessories have become enduring and
versatile. Mehendi art, for example,
is now used by many masquerades
to decorate their body for Carnival.
Up to the 1960s, tattoo was part of an
Indian tradition that had to be worn
by newly-married women on their
arms. Nowadays, a tattoo is worn
by anyone and placed anywhere on
the body. Bindis have also become
the rave of teenage girls and young
women. They sometimes place them
around their navel as an expression of
artistic freedom.
It has now become a tradition at every
Divali festivity to stage a fashion show.
This aspect of culture has a philo-
sophical basis that is grounded in the
celebration of the bodily attributes of
poise, beauty and attire.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2003
Food culture and (un)healthy eating
The Ministry of Health statistics show
that one of the main causes of death in
Trinidad and Tobago is cardiovascular
disease. Moreover, statistics from Pan
American Health Organisation (PAHO)
reveal that this country ranks fifth in the
world per capita in the case of diabetes.
It must be recognized that certain
aspects of our cultural dietary tradition
may in fact be dangerous to our health.
Divali, with its lavish feasts of sweets
and fatty foods, is an appropriate time
to bring greater awareness about the
importance of a healthy diet in prevent-
ing heart diseases and diabetes.
In addition to being a religious event,
Divali is fast becoming the country’s
Divali Magazine 2018
36 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
foremost free food festival. Dishes Most Indians are not aware that
like roti, channa [chick pea] and aloo they are at risk of contracting heart
[potato], curried mango and pumpkin disease compared to others with high
are shared on the national table. cholesterol levels.
Hindus and Indians are at a greater Indians also form the majority of
risk of contracting heart disease patients suffering with diabetes. The
than others with high cholesterol figures for these “lifestyle diseases” are
levels. Research by the University of becoming astronomical and alarming,
California-Berkeley Center for Family particularly when a large percentage of
and Community Health has shown people can prevent their onset.
that Indians around the world have
the highest rate of heart disease. There
is the suggestion that there may be a
genetic link to this disease.
Indo-Trinidadians, therefore, are tech-
nically, a disadvantaged and at-risk
group in this multi-ethnic society.
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Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2002
Cultural ecology or, alternatively,
religion and the environment.
Divali, the Hindu Festival of Lights,
can also be a time when greater aware-
ness can be brought to the national
community of the relationship between
conservation of the natural environ-
ment and the cultural heritage of the
society. Divali offers the opportunity
for Hindu and non-Hindu stakehold-
ers in the environment to review the
ecological benefits that the celebration
highlights.
The Hindu tradition in India of making
valuable trees sacred was passed down
to devotees in Trinidad to maintain an
ecological relationship between man
Divali Magazine 2018
38 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
and nature. The basis of this relation-
ship is the safety and survival of trees,
and forest-dwelling animals, from ex-
ploitation by man.
The Hindu use of plants bamboo
during Divali is perhaps the best way
to illustrate the concept of spiritual
or cultural ecology, the relationship
between man and the environment, and
the place of plants in a planet ravished
by human destruction.
Each Divali, truckloads of men go to
cut bamboo clumps which are stripped
to make various designs. On these
decorative designs – which take the
shapes of arches, swans, Oms, sitars,
etc., deyas [clay lamps] are placed
and lit.
Hindus also use bamboo to make
cannons (“bursting bamboo”) to herald
the season of Divali and Christmas,
which runs one after the other. Most
Hindu homes and ceremonies are
marked with a jhandi, which is a sacred
flag hoisted on a bamboo pole.
Shubh Divali
Trinidad and Tobago
The radiance of the nation shines bright
as light conquers darkness, today we
celebrate our victory as one people.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2001
A History of Success for Hindus
As the world observes the first Divali
celebrations in the new millennium,
Hindus in the Caribbean need to reflect
on their history as a people. Out of
the darkness of indentureship (1838
- 1917) came the light of a new dawn
which revealed several achievements
as well as challenges.
In Trinidad and Tobago, after a brief
Hindu presence in Cabinet under the
NAR government of 1986, Basdeo
Panday was elected the first Hindu
Prime Minister of the country in 1995.
The Education Minister presided over
the construction of the Parvati, Shiva
Divali Magazine 2018
40 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
and Vishnu Hindu Colleges, and The
World Hindu Conference was held in
Trinidad in August 2000.
There was the launch of the country’s
newest Indian music radio station,
Masala 101.1 FM. There is the hope
that it would introduce more talk shows
to complement those of Power 102, and
in so doing, Hindus and Indians would
be free to express themselves on issues
that affect them in their own way.
There is also a now a dark shadow over
the political landscape in our blessed
and beloved country. The nation’s
Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday, and
his former Attorney General, Ramesh
Lawrence Maharaj, have become
estranged over political differences.
Consequently, the two are now ad-
versaries in a “brother vs brother”
duel which some political pundits
have likened to the historic battle of
Kurushetra, described in the Indian
epic poem, the Mahabharata. The his-
toric war arose between two groups of
cousins fighting for the kingdom of
Kuru in 3102 BCE.
Celebrating 18 editions of a Divali magazine
ICC DIVALI FESTIVAL SOUVENIR MAGAZINE, 2000
A New Dawn for Hindus
Out of the darkness of indentureship
(1838 - 1917) came the light of a new
dawn which revealed several achieve-
ments as well as challenges.
In the political world, Indo-Trinidadians
would have been disenfranchised by a
literary test had it not been for the in-
troduction of Universal Adult Suffrage
in 1946.
The initiative of Rienzi (Krishna
Deonarine) and others removed the
dark cloud, and the first Hindu Minister,
Adjodhasingh, was eventually sworn
in 1950. The Hindu Marriage Act was
proclaimed in 1946, and the Hindu
“bamboo wedding” became officially
recognised by the Government.
Divali Magazine 2018
42 Indo-Caribbean Cultural Centre Co. Ltd.
It can be argued that 1946-1956 was
the golden decade of Hinduism in
20th century Trinidad. The two major
Hindu bodies merged to form the
Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha under
the dynamic leadership of Hindu na-
tionalist, Bhadase Sagan Maraj. The
merger saw the construction of 40
Hindu primary schools, beginning
in 1953, and the establishment of
Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College and,
later, Sangre Grande Hindu College.
This inaugural issue of our Divali
magazine in 2000 promised to take a
new approach in educating the society
about Hindus and Hinduism in Trinidad
and the wider Caribbean. After 18
unbroken, continuous editions/years,
we are proud to declare that we are
still around and running strong.
The year 2000 began a new dawn in
the Caribbean. The inauguration of
our magazine minimised the “tradi-
tions-based” method of teaching about
Hinduism; it ushered a new and re-
freshing approach of teaching about
a surviving, ancient religion through
the lens of culture.
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 Indian Caribbean
Folklore Spirits
by Kumar Mahabir
with illustrations by Aneesa Khan
This captivating book provides details of the presence of
a brood of spirits believed to roam the Caribbean since
the abolition of slavery. For the firsttime in history, the
existence of these spirits is being revealed collectively to
the general public, in this compilation. These supernatural
beings are (1) the raa-khas - a deformed, demonic newborn child, (2) the chu-rile – a spirit of a deceased
pregnant woman, (3) the saap-in - a woman who transforms into a snake, (4) Dee Baba – a mythical
protector of the house and land, and (5) the jinn, Sheik Sadiq - a spirit that can be captured in a bottle to
grant wishes.
2010. 32 pp. 9 x 7¾ inches. ISBN 978-976-95049-5-0-2-0. Paperback.
TT$45. or US$12. (includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/

Caribbean
Indian Folktales
Collected by Kumar Mahabir
Illustrations by Angali Dabideen & Preddie Partap.
Foreword by Professor Vibert C. Cambridge
Written as a textbook for secondary schools and as a collector's
item for personal pleasure, Caribbean Indian Folktales is an
interesting, authentic and useful book. It is the first and largest
collection of its kind to be written in the original English dialect
of the storytellers. Each tale is also accompanied by a Standard
English version which has been sensitively written so as to retain
the spirit and rhythm of the original narration. The book consists
of a collection of 25 stories which have been passed down from
generation to generation by word of mouth from India to the Caribbean over a century and a half. The tales were
tape-recorded from tradition-bearers in Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, and Grenada since 1980.

2005. xviii + 164 pp. 5¼ x 8¼ inches. Paperback. ISBN 976-95049-2-0

TT$100. or US$25. (includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/
 e n • Re cy c
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•

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o ot p r i n t s

• E co - f ri en
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bo

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ly
•R ar
e d uci ngC

SHUBH
DIVALI
May the Divine Light of Divali
bring Radiance, Prosperity and Happiness
into your home and your life always.

www.storebayholidays.com

store_bay@hotmail.com
trinre.com AUTO l HOME l BUSINESS l LIFE
 Traditional Medicine &
Women Healers in Trinidad:
Postnatal Health Care
Kumar Mahabir
This book discusses the relationship between traditional healers and modern
healthcare practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago. It focuses on folk masseuses,
and the new mothers and newborns they treat. The two medical systems are
presented in the context of racial, ethnic, class and gender dynamics which
give rise to issues of power and control. The study is located in the politi-
cal-economic context of the Third World which has a history of dependency on
foreign goods and services which has been rooted in the plantation economy.

2012. 212 pages. 5½ x 8 inches. Paperback.

ISBN 978-976-95049-6-7
TT $100. or US $25.
(includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
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Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/

The Legacy of Indian

Indenture: 150 Years of
East Indians of Trinidad
Mahin Gosine, Dipak Malik & Kumar Mahabir
This book consists of a wide range of papers on the East
Indian presence in Trinidad and, to some extent, Guyana
from a sociological, political, historicaland anthropological
perspective. The themes include migration, the influence
of Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mahatma Gandhi and Cheddi
Jagan, Political Pluralism, Hindi, Women Laborers, Indian
Culinary Dishes and the Indian use of Marijuana.

1995. 267 pp. Paperback. ISBN 0-9689-818-74

TT$160. or US$25. (includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
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10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
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dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/
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 Multiple Identities
Essays on Caribbean
Literature Kumar Mahabir
This collection of eleven essays focuses mainly on a variety of literary
works by Caribbean writers. Part One comprises critical perspectives
on individual poems by A.L. Hendriks (“Neighbour, Tenth Floor”),
Mervyn Morris (“Cave”), Eric Roach (“I am the Archipelago”) and
Anthony McNeill (“Rimbaud Jingle”). Part Two critiques individual
novels by John Hearne (Voices Under the Window), Wilson Harris
(Palace of the Peacock), George Lamming (In the Castle of My Skin) and Earl Lovelace (The Dragon Can’t
Dance). Part Three studies the works by V.S. Naipaul on his childhood and education. Part Four analyses the
Trinidad observance of Hosay/Muharram as a form of folk drama/street theatre. The collection concludes with an
Appendix which contains an exclusive record of a talk by Samuel Selvon to a few students in 1982.

2017. xi +169 pages 6 x 9 inches. Paperback. ISBN 978-1-36-630431-5

TT $120. or US $30. (includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/

A Dictionary of Common Trinidad Hindi

compiled and edited by Kumar Mahabir
additional entries contributed by
Visham Bhimull & Rajan Seemungal
It is without doubt that Hindi in Trinidad and Guyana has contributed
scores of loan words to mainstream Caribbean English. Today,
Hindi/Indic lexical items are being used regularly by calypso and chut-
ney singers, writers, journalists, broadcasters and politicians.
Linguists refer to the variety of Hindi commonly spoken in Trinidad
as “Trinidad Bhojpuri,” “broken Hindi” or “gaa-nw bo-lee” [village
speech]. The majority of people refer to Standard Hindi as “Good
Hindi” or “Proper Hindi.” Trinidad Bhojpuri is now a dying language
used mainly by very old, usually rural Indians.
This illustrated dictionary represents a record and inventory of 1,864 words and calques used in everyday speech
by younger Indians and older non-Indians in multi-ethnic Trinidad.
First printed 1990. Fourth edition 2018, Illustrations by S.K. Ragbir & Hayden Geeawan
5¼ x 8¼ xxxiii + 105 pages. ISBN 976-95049-3-9 Paperback
TT $80. (includes handling, registration and local/foreign postage)
Please confirm prices and availability before placing an order.
For orders, contact
10 Swami Avenue, Don Miguel Road, San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago
Tel/fax: (868) 675-7707, Mobile: (868) 756-4961
dmahabir@gmail.com, indocaribbeanstaff@gmail.com
indocaribbeanpublications.com/our-books/