Hinduism in Guyana S.A.

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

There are 300,000 Hindus in the small South American country of Guyana, 35% of the population in Guyana is Hindu and they have many beautiful Temples there. Many in North America are unaware of this, but thanks to the efforts of magazines such as Hinduism Today, as well as active Hindu websites from Guyana, those who live in the US, Canada and other countries of the Americas and who are Hindu are discovering Guyana as a destination of travel that includes wonderful adventures and experiences in Hinduism.

Hinduism in Guyana is bright and beautiful, and a nation of natural beauty as well. I have never been there, but recently a Guyanese Hindu at an Indian grocery revealed this cultural treasure to me, certainly one day I would like to visit.

"East Indians" immigrated to here from Bihar and North India, some were indentured. There is a strong Vaishnav culture and other sects of Hinduism are also found. Arya Samaj also has a strong presence. Most mandirs, temples, sampradays and such are open to all Hindus without discrimination, and cultural and social self-help and Hindu safety nets and societies serve all in the Hindu community openly. Americans are now coming as tourists as well, some to include the Hindu experience as part of the journey. In the 1970s and into the 90s, however, there has been a slow decrease in actively practicing Hindus among the youth of Guyana influenced by modern "pop" and "entertainment" culture, but there is now an outreach to stimulate Hinduism, including some work from India as well as from ISKCON international. There are some very wonderful temples.

Interestingly, Guyanese Hindus have brought an active surgence of Hinduism to New York, where devotion to Hanuman is now found and some Westerners have found Hanuman.

Hindu Temple, Guyana:

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[StarryNightshade]

Hmm, I knew that Trinidad had a sizable Hindu population, but I had no idea that Guyana had one as well.

I guess that's one more place to add to my check list.

 

[Vinayaka]

The Guyanese Hindus have had considerable impact in Toronto as well. It would be an interesting trip ... a month in Trinidad, than a month in Guyana.

We have a Caribbean Hindu association here. It's another unique mix, just like in many other of the sugar colonies.

 

[Sb1995]

All I know is that the Hindus from Guyana and Trinidad were slaves brought over by the British.

 

[Vinayaka]

All I know is that the Hindus from Guyana and Trinidad were slaves brought over by the British.

Indentured labour, one step up from slave, but not by much.

Dr. Doobay, the main pundit at Vishnu Mandir in your city, is Guyanese.

 

[Kalidas]

Indentured labour, one step up from slave, but not by much.

Dr. Doobay, the main pundit at Vishnu Mandir in your city, is Guyanese.

You know what I noticed. Hinduism seems like the only religion that specifies via country. There are Indian Hindus , Balinese Hindus, Western Hindus and now Guyanese Hindus. Nothing wrong just an odd thing I noticed.

 

[Vinayaka]

You know what I noticed. Hinduism seems like the only religion that specifies via country. There are Indian Hindus , Balinese Hindus, Western Hindus and now Guyanese Hindus. Nothing wrong just an odd thing I noticed.

Or by state. Other religions do it as well. It helps an outsider understand where someone is coming from. (Pun intended).

 

[Sb1995]

Indentured labour, one step up from slave, but not by much.

Dr. Doobay, the main pundit at Vishnu Mandir in your city, is Guyanese.

Yep I know, so is Pandit Sharma from Ram Mandir. Mississauga Ram Mandir

 

[Kalidas]

Or by state. Other religions do it as well. It helps an outsider understand where someone is coming from. (Pun intended).

Well like when I was still Christian we would have people from other countries visit. We never called them "eastern Christian" or what ever. Again not good or bad just different, and I think I know the reason.

Its in how Hinduism spreads. Hinduism works to include and assumilate other cultures within it, instead of squashing and replacing.. Example Bali Hindus still to this day worship their old indeginous Gods. When Hinduism spread there instead of destroying these Gods they said "Hey your God of fire sounds a lot like Agni. Maybe they are the same. Please continue your reverence of these Gods." Thus we get different cultures in Hinduism, because Hinduism does not seek to destroy and replace cultures but merely to include and work with different cultures.

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

There are Goan Christians (from Goa), and Kerala Muslims.

Then there are Hyderabadi Muslims which must be distingushed from Kerala, something to do with mutton.

The most powerful tigers of all are half-Gujarati half-Bengali Hindus. One day they will conquer the world.

Kalifornia Hindus have two varieties - Los Angeles and San Francisco. LA Hindus have nice saris for the matajis, but SF matajis cook better. The accents are different.

Many think that the first to come to the New World were either Norweigen Knights, Vikings or Chrisopher Columbus. But the first to land on were actually some Javanese Hindus.

Javanese Hindus are pretty interesting. They have a unique dance style that was introduced to the Aztecs.

Guyanese Hinduism is sweeping into Venezuela among Hispanics. Their Murtis look like Greek faces.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Poeticus]

The most powerful tigers of all are half-Gujarati half-Bengali Hindus. One day they will conquer the world.

Oh Sweetie, you're too kind. :flirt:​

 

[Kalidas]

Oh Sweetie, you're too kind. :flirt:​

Nice Dean Winchester meme.

 

[Sb1995]

Oh Sweetie, you're too kind. :flirt:​

They may be tigers but the real lions are Punjabis. We rule India

 

[Vinayaka]

They may be tigers but the real lions are Punjabis. We rule India

Although I know you're all joking, this is one of the facets within Hinduism that is detrimental. The ethnocentricity that plagues mankind in India and elsewhere needs to be reduced, and everyone should be able to look at the bigger picture. For example, SB can go to a Sri Lankan temple to worship, or I can go to a variety of temples in Vancouver. But the fact remains that because of narrow-minded ethnicity, many people won't go outside their little box.

 

[ShivaFan]

Namaste Vinayaka

That is what I liked about the Guyanese man I met in the grocery - he was very out of the box. Actually, from his personality, and then my exploration of Guyana temples, my sense is perhaps they have had a history of stigmatization even in India before indentured, and they are very sensitive to acceptance and openly accepting. They seem so very happy in their Hinduism as well, their Murtis are very beautiful also. Though I am a Saiva and most of their beautiful devotions are Vaishnav, I would love to visit their temples.

Om Namah Sivaya

 

[Sb1995]

Namaste Vinayaka

That is what I liked about the Guyanese man I met in the grocery - he was very out of the box. Actually, from his personality, and then my exploration of Guyana temples, my sense is perhaps they have had a history of stigmatization even in India before indentured, and they are very sensitive to acceptance and openly accepting. They seem so very happy in their Hinduism as well, their Murtis are very beautiful also. Though I am a Saiva and most of their beautiful devotions are Vaishnav, I would love to visit their temples.

Om Namah Sivaya

I'll be honest, I believe its because there culture has mixed with all the blacks that live in guyana and trinidad. They are different than regular indians

 

[Sb1995]

Although I know you're all joking, this is one of the facets within Hinduism that is detrimental. The ethnocentricity that plagues mankind in India and elsewhere needs to be reduced, and everyone should be able to look at the bigger picture. For example, SB can go to a Sri Lankan temple to worship, or I can go to a variety of temples in Vancouver. But the fact remains that because of narrow-minded ethnicity, many people won't go outside their little box.

Very true indeed. Most Indians stick within their own set of people. I attend a guyanese temple atleast twice-three times a month. Very open and friendly.

 

[Poeticus]

They may be tigers but the real lions are Punjabis. We rule India

 

[Aupmanyav]

I guess that's one more place to add to my check list.

Also, Suriname (Dutch Guyana) - 27%.

No, he was thinking about Cabinet expansion.

 

[Haryaksha]

Great thread!

My parents were born and raised in Guyana, descended from indentured laborers from Uttar Pradesh. I have only visited Guyana once when I was about 5 years old for a wedding. I don't remember much except nice sunny weather and lots of mosquitoes lol

There is definitely a Vaishnava culture, but Guyanese Hindus are not very sectarian. Most predominantly worship Krishna, Rama, and Hanuman, but Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, and Lakshmi are also worshipped.

I am glad to hear about outreach to stimulate Hinduism in Guyana. Over 50% of the population used to be Hindu, but many left the country throughout the 1970s and 1980s (like my parents) to flee from the tyranny of CIA-backed dictator Forbes Burnham, who oppressed Hindus in Guyana. There is also a growing missionary presence in Guyana, especially through Pentecostal churches.

Some notable aspects of Guyanese Hindu culture:
- Murugan/Skanda is pretty much unheard of among Guyanese Hindus. I know that Murugan is mainly a South Indian deity, but to my understanding most other Indians/Hindus have at least heard of Murugan. Despite being raised Hindu, I never even heard of Murugan/Skanda until I started reading about Hinduism on the internet. My family was surprised when I mentioned that to them. To most Guyanese Hindus, Shiva only has one "son", Ganesha.

- Older generations of Guyanese Hindus had arranged marriages (such as my grandparents), but it is now much less common. The vivaah fire ceremony is more or less the same as conducted throughout India, but a uniquely Guyanese/Indo-Carribbean Hindu wedding tradition is the Maticoor/Maticore, also known as Dig Dutty. It is conducted before the actual wedding ceremony, sometimes a week before and sometimes a day before. It takes place at the bride's and grooms' households simultaneously. A havan is conducted and the main parts of the Maticoor are digging a hole (dutty) into the earth and making offerings and prayers to Mother Earth for fertility and prosperity in the marriage. The bride and groom are also ritually rubbed with a turmeric-based paste. They both glow with the resplendence of the turmeric, as it usually stays on through the wedding ceremony. I usually find the Maticoor to be even more enchanting than the actual wedding ceremony, as the power of Mother Earth can be felt through the offerrings and prayers.

- Most Guyanese Hindus are not vegetarian. Many people eat poultry and fish, but never beef or pork. Lamb is consumed by some on special occasions. But meat is not a central part of the diet, as it is usually consumed only a couple times per week for most. I grew up eating poultry and fish until I became vegetarian at the age of 9.

- Holi and Diwali are national holidays in Guyana. Schools and businesses are closed, and even non-Hindus actively take part, especially on Holi.

I think Guyana is a great example of Hinduism's spread throughout the world and the different regional variations and customs that develop in the practice of Dharma. I hope that there is indeed a resurgence of Hinduism in Guyana, as many Guyanese are converting to Christianity or just dropping religion altogether. As more and more Indo-Guyanese go back to their cultural roots, they will discover the rich traditions and beauty that eternally permeate Sanatana Dharma.