As we celebrate 174 years of the East Indian presence in Trinidad and Tobago on Indian Arrival Day 2019, SWAHA remembers the contribution of our ancestors with gratitude. Our cultural heritage is celebrated every year in SWAHA’s Swadeshi competition and awards ceremony. Here are two entries from previous years.
Preserving Our Culture
One hundred and seventy-four years ago across the kalapaani,
Bhaarat ke parampara Chinidad me bahane lage,
Bringing with them a rich and vibrant culture,
Surviving hardship, struggle and torture.
Many years later we excel and overcome
and after much effort we have only just begun.
We cannot let our heritage slowly slip away.
Yahan parampara, anushtaan, aur abhyaas raha rahe hai!
As the years have passed on
Society has broken down
Taking a toll on our community
and attempting to destroy a beautiful dynasty.
Now that we have learnt the hard way,
To our forefathers I say, “Mujhe afsos hai”
We recognise the need to preserve its sanctity
and we are building a vision to become a reality.
O bachee! Our culture is in despair
when daaru ke gane pervade everywhere!
Please restore it to what it ought to be.
Bring it back to its beauty and all its glory.
Fearless and courageous at the start,
From our noble teachings, we must never part.
I urge you, please respect our ancestry
and do what you must to preserve our identity!
Bhai aur bahin, our culture lies in our youth,
In a doha of virtue and a katha of truth.
Mere dosto, we have a tradition to maintain
So that our ancestors’ hard work won’t go in vain.
Bhaashaa, bhojan, geet aur capre
Voh laaye hamaare ke liye!
So let us all direct the flow of our culture
and do all that we must to preserve our Dharma.
Amrica Aruna Seepersad of SWAHA Divya Ashram (Senior Category)
The Deeya of Dharma
In the deeya I see my religion and culture,
The flame which was lit by our ancestors,
The clay frame is the pillar of Sanaatan Dharma,
And the wick our eternal aatma,
But alas, the havaa is now blowing out the flame,
We need to refuel for it to remain.
The flame will keep getting dimmer,
If we don’t practise satyam and soucham,
And refuel with the oil of daan and daya,
Follow the teachings of the Ramayan and Gita,
And the flame will no longer flicker.
We must add tel to the almost empty deeya,
By offering jal, doing havan and puja,
Worship Dharti Ma and the scriptures,
Mat Bhoolna Durga Ma and our janam matas,
Recite mantras and chant bhajans and kirtans,
And dharma deep will shine with radiance.
Follow the parampara of nana, nanee, aja and agie,
By fasting and celebrating Nauratam, Divali and Holi,
Attend mandir and participate in Ramleela and Swadeshi,
And respect our badon, guru, mata aur pita,
So the flame of dharma will shine hamesha.
When we fill the deeya with the practice of ahimsa,
And fuel it with compassion to Dharti Mata,
Doing aarti and worshipping Devi and Devta,
Then we can protect and uplift Sanaatan Dharma,
As the flame will be shining brightly,
And attaining moksh will be a reality.
Suhani Beharry, Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali (Junior Category)
