Message from Leader of the Opposition on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti
Our beloved nation of Trinidad and Tobago is blessed and is truly a sterling example of how people from different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds can live together in harmony, and respect for each other’s traditions.
This weekend, members of the Christian faith are celebrating Easter, and the Hindu community is observing the holy occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman, the son of the wind God, Pawan, a celestial being who possesses supernatural strength.
Sri Hanuman is a symbol of courage, strength, and hope. He symbolically stands for pure devotion, complete surrender and absence of ego, and is likened to the disciplined mind.
Hanuman Jayanti involves prayers, fasting, offerings and the chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, which is a hymn of praise to Hanuman, who is best known as the most loyal devotee of Lord Rama.
I take heart in one particular verse in the Hanuman Chalisa which reads:
Sankat se Hanuman chudavai
Man Karam Vachan dyan jo lavai
Those who remember Shri Hanuman in thought, words and deeds
with Sincerity and Faith, are rescued from all crises in life
As outlined in the Hindu epic the Ramayan, Sri Hanuman’s life is one of righteousness and the triumph of good over evil. His devotion and dedication to Lord Rama are profound, and he faithfully carried out his Lord’s wishes, using his wisdom and supernatural powers to help defeat King Ravan, the embodiment of evil.
In these uncertain times, we should turn to Sri Hanuman to give us the strength to join together to rid our nation of the darkness that has taken hold in our nation, and to bless us with the courage to stand up against tyranny and oppression as he did in the epic story of the Holy Ramayan.
As we move forward, let us unite and commit to building a brighter, more prosperous future for our nation. We must keep hope and faith alive in our hearts, and work as Sri Hanuman did, towards fulfilling our purpose – ensuring a better future for our children and grandchildren.
On behalf of my family, and on behalf of the Opposition, I send my best wishes to the Hindu community and to all citizens on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
I pray that Lord Hanuman blesses our lives with peace, happiness and prosperity.
Jai Hanuman! Jai Bajrang Bali.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP
Leader of the Opposition
19th April, 2019