A 16-foot statue of Lord Hanuman has been installed at the Seeta Ram Radhey Shyam Mandir in Sparta, on the Essequibo coast of Guyana, marking a significant cultural and spiritual milestone for the local Hindu community.
The statue, imported from India by the Sooklal family in memory of their parents, was unveiled on Sunday following a three-day yajna that commenced on Friday.
The religious event, which included bhajans and cultural presentations, drew a large gathering of devotees, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual ties between India and the Caribbean nation.
In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Guyana described the statue as a “symbol of faith, friendship, and firm resolve.”
The embassy added, “A 16 feet Murti of Bhagawan Hanuman ji has been installed in Essequibo at the Seeta Ram Radhey Shyam Mandir in Sparta - as a symbol of faith, friendship and firm resolve. May Lord Bajrangabali bless us in our efforts to forge closer people-to-people ties between India and Guyana. The Murti has been imported from India by the Sooklal family and installed in memory of their parents and it will continue to guide us in our future endeavours.”
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The installation of the statue is seen as a major milestone for the Hindu community in Guyana, where people of Indian origin form a substantial portion of the population. The temple, already a significant spiritual centre for the local community, now boasts one of the largest Hanuman statues in the region.
Reflecting on the deep-rooted connection between India and Guyana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his 116th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' last year, had highlighted the strong influence of the Indian diaspora in the South American nation. He noted, “About 180 years ago, people from India were taken to Guyana to work in the fields and for other purposes. Today, people of Indian origin in Guyana are leading in every field of politics, business, education, and culture.”
Prime Minister Modi, who visited Guyana from November 20 to 22 last year, became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the nation in 56 years. During his visit, he emphasised the significant role the Indian diaspora plays in maintaining strong cultural links with their ancestral homeland.
Diplomatic ties between India and Guyana date back to 1965, when the Commission of India was established in Georgetown, later becoming a full-fledged High Commission of India in 1968, shortly after Guyana gained independence in 1966, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
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