Dear Editor,
Another memorial is to be held for the late Pandit Prakash Gossai this weekend. This is good. However, an enduring tribute to the late pandit would be to publish an easy-to-read reference book on Hindu rituals and practices.
There is a great need for an instructional or how-to-do book which would explain and guide one regarding Hindu rituals, practices, manners, symbolism, music, and other customs (including those of the Aryans) in the community. This book must be one to be used by both the pandit and the devotee. I say this upon the heels of a letter by Mr Harry Hergash (SN, June 30), in which he tells us that a Toronto-based attorney, Mr Ram Sahadeo, Mr Manieram Deonarain, and others are working hard to import Hindu texts into Guyana. I applaud these individuals and encourage others to imitate them.
In this spirit and in light of Pandit Gossai’s passing, I propose this other book project. In fact, I wanted to approach him about this proposal, but never did. At best, I only raised the idea briefly with Dr Suresh Narine, one of the pandit’s close friends with whom, I believe, he conversed about Hindu practices etc. For too long, too many have been asking too many questions regarding Hindu rituals and customs; for too long, too many young people have attended Hindu functions only anxious for the ring of a bell or blowing of a shell, often signalling the end of a function. For too long, too many have carried with them a sense of disconnect because they are unfamiliar with the intricacies of rituals which, incidentally, are quite practical and simple once explained. With such a book to redress this disconnect, the interest in and understanding of Hindu rituals and customs would climb, especially in younger people who are at risk of having very little to pass to their children.
There are some books floating around in the community that provide some explanation, for example, on the Hindu wedding or deities commonly associated with orthodox Sanatan Dharma. But such books are not comprehensive or substantial, and we need to unite all this information in one book.
This book must give definitions of basic words or concepts, not only of rituals and practices but beginning with a structure of Hinduism, and with deities and incarnations aligned in a commonsense manner despite variations in myths. What is a jhandi; is it a puja or an emblematic flag? Is a yajna the same as a havan? Why is the right hand favoured over the left, or one finger over another? Why aarti clockwise and not anti-clockwise; why sleep with our heads facing north and why pray with our faces and deities facing the east?
This book must educate on Hindu musical forms. Why only women participate in matikor, for example, where they sing gariyals? Why mostly men sing chowtaals at Phagwah; what type of song is heard at wakes? What is satsangh and what is kirtan; is mouran the same as “nine day” and what songs do we sing; who is Natraja and what does his damru (drum) represent?
This book ought to instruct one not only that Goddess Parvati is the wife of Lord Shiva but why their son, Lord Ganesha, came to have an elephant’s head. It must educate as to whether Lord Rama spent 14 years in exile, or whether the great war of India depicted in the Mahabharata lasted for 18 days or 18 years?
Too often, too many for too long have been asking questions in the kitchen whenever they are preparing the food for Hindu rituals and functions, including, at times, what or how much food is to be set aside for the dead when “dead wuk” is done. Can we leave soft drinks (soda) instead of water for the departed? Too often, too many for too long have been getting conflicting answers. This book ought to indicate where and when we have multiple answers, each legitimate as this has been the case for many reasons, one of which is that old Hinduism has been evolving in the Caribbean and, with migration to colder climates, also in North America and Europe.
Obviously, there is a lot to be brought together under the umbrella of one book; obviously, such a project would be time-consuming and need the contribution of many. But it is long overdue and anyone is free to assume it. I hope pandits and other guardians of Hindu culture would really consider this project. I would be very happy to assist in any way I can, especially as an editor and writer. My contact information is: rrampert@yahoo.com
However, I write this with the people, especially in Queens (eg, Bhuvaneshwar Mandir, established by the late Pandit Gossai) in mind, as it would be a worthy tribute to a pandit whose work did create a sturdy centre amongst Hindus who had known decades of prayers and pujas shipwrecked by Guyanese politics.
Yours faithfully,
Rakesh Rampertab