Indian High Commissioner: UNC's election victory was like Divali

INDIAN High Commissioner to TT Dr Pradeep Rajpurohit has compared the UNC's victory in the April 28 general election to Divali.

He made the comparison when he addressed Divali celebrations at Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's Siparia constituency office in Penal on October 11. The event was held under Persad-Bissessar's patronage, in collaboration with the Siparia Women's Association.

Rajpurohit recalled previous occasions when he complimented Divali celebrations in TT. "I am in love with all these festivities," he gushed.

He told the audience, which included Persad-Bissessar, several government ministers and members of the diplomatic corps that this year, TT arguably has two Divali celebrations.

The official Divali celebration is on October 20, but Rajpurohit said there was another Divali celebration before that.

"The first one (was) in April this year when you all would have voted for the new government under the leadership of the honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar Ji," he said. The UNC swept to victory in the April 28 general election beating the PNM by a 26-13 margin. The two Tobago seats went to the TPP.

The top Indian diplomat said, "This was again a decisive moment, ending a ten years of a decade long vanvas."

In Hinduism, vanvas is a Sanskrit term for living in a forest, which can mean either a voluntary spiritual retreat or, more commonly, a forced exile.

In her subsequent address, Persad-Bissessar described her return as prime minister and the UNC's return to government in similar terms. “For ten long years in opposition, I too walked that path of exile.”

Persad-Bissessar said, "When April 28 came, six months ago, you raised your deyas high and called your leader home. That was not my victory; it was ours."

Rajpurohit said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first foreign leader to congratulate Persad-Bissessar on her victory.

He thanked Persad-Bissessar for the warm welcome which Modi received on his brief visit to TT in July, as part of a visit to several nations in which Modi sought to expand South-South co-operation. From TT, Modi visited Brazil.

In an address to a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate at Parliament in Port of Spain on July 4, Modi said, "For us. There are no limits to our co-operation with you." He added, "We will always be guided by your needs and your priorities."

The event on Saturday was marked by puja (Hindu prayers), a cultural parade and entertainment including tassa drumming. Persad-Bissessar, government ministers and parliamentarians participated in the parade. Among those present were Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarath, Attorney General John Jeremie, Works and Infrastructure Minister Jearlean John, Housing Minister David Lee, Rural Development and Local Government Minister Khadijah Ameen, Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe and Minister in the Ministry of Housing Anil Roberts.

Towards the end of the puja, some people joined Persad-Bissessar in performing aarti and charanasparsha (feet touching as a mark of respect and reverence) on stage.

Charanasparsha, in Indian culture, is a gesture of deep respect for elders, teachers, and other revered individuals. It signifies humility, acknowledging their wisdom and experience, and seeking their blessings.

The act is a way to express devotion and can be seen as a connection to the individual's knowledge and strength.

UNC deputy political leader Jearlean John performed Charanasparsha on Persad-Bissessar, or at least she tried to, as the prime minister caught John mid-bow and held her before they embraced each other in an act of sisterly love.

Aarti is a Hindu ritual of worship involving the waving of a deya in a circular motion to honour a deity. It's performed with various auspicious items like incense, flowers, and water, and is accompanied by singing, ringing bells, and sometimes blowing a conch shell.