Imale Ogun, Mother Lakshmi – open the way for us
HUMANITY. It means quite literally, all the people in the world. In this moment, the meaning that matters most is the one that reflects on the completeness of what it means to be human. This interpretation of humanity envisions the qualities of compassion, empathy and care at the forefront of our understanding.With this in mind, we are in the midst of an extraordinary weekend, as significant numbers of our community commemorate the Ogun Festival and Divali. Will the energies of prayer and celebration move us closer to a better comprehension of what it means to be human?
Traditionally, we associate Divali with the lighting of deyas, cleaning and painting of our homes and yards and the sharing of delicious food. This year the National Council of Indian Culture is asking us to delve deeper into our understanding of the Festival of Divali with the chosen theme of Loka Sangraha – Welfare of the World.
The Ogun Festival, which also began this week, focused so far on the themes of generational wealth for people of African heritage, as well as honouring the ancestors. In both Hinduism and Ifa/Orisa belief systems, veneration of ancestors is fundamental to maintaining connectivity in the circle of life – that is, between the living, the unborn and those who have transitioned. This belief in the nexus between worlds is also key to indigenous peoples who commemorate their heritage day on October 14.Elders from Laventille, East Port of Spain and surrounding areas tell stories that the early explorations of pan were nurtured in the ancient Orisa iles or yards.