Georgetown– A majestic 16-foot statue (murti) of Lord Hanuman has been installed at the Seeta Ram Radhey Shyam Mandir in Sparta, located on Guyana’s Essequibo Coast, symbolizing devotion, cultural connection, and spiritual resilience.
The intricately crafted statue, imported from India, now stands as the tallest Hanuman murti of its kind along the Essequibo Coast. It was generously donated by the Soklall family in loving memory of their late parents.
“May Lord Bajrangbali bless us in our efforts to forge closer people-to-people ties between India and Guyana. The murti was imported from India by the Sooklal family and installed in memory of their parents. It will continue to guide us in our future endeavors,” the High Commission of India in Georgetown posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
The installation ceremony was part of a three-day yajna (spiritual gathering), which began on Friday and culminated on Sunday with the grand unveiling of the statue before a large gathering of devotees. The religious observances featured nightly discourses, devotional singing (bhajans), and cultural performances, reinforcing community bonds through shared faith and heritage.
The celebration echoes the deep-rooted cultural ties between India and Guyana, vividly displayed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country in November last year. A spiritually uplifting Ram bhajan was held at Promenade Garden in Georgetown to welcome him, highlighting the strength of Indo-Guyanese cultural heritage.
Promenade Garden, a hub for the Indian diaspora in Guyana, represents a significant connection point for many Indo-Guyanese tracing their ancestry back to India.
During his visit, PM Modi also addressed the Indian diaspora at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown. He praised the Indo-Guyanese community for their perseverance and cultural contributions, referring to them as “Rashtradoots”—ambassadors of Indian culture and values—and encouraged them to deepen bilateral ties between the two nations.
His visit was widely regarded as a historic moment, underscoring not only the political partnership between India and Guyana but also the enduring spiritual and cultural connections that unite their peoples. (Source: IANS)
