Crowds at peace pilgrimage

THE EDITOR: Please permit me a space in your paper to share with our readers an experience I had recently at a pilgrimage to the Aripo River. Among the escalating spate of violent crimes, increase in murders and kidnappings in our country, prayers and peace were at the fore-front for the almost 3,000 devotees who journeyed from all over the country to the Aripo River last Sunday. The Senior Superintendent and his many officers could not control the influx of yearning devotees who were led to prayer by the dynamic young Pundit Lutchmidath Persad-Maharaj of Todd’s Road who inspired the congregation in prayer for national peace and blessing.

As a young Indian, not a Hindu I was moved by the Pundit’s quotations from the Vedas, Holy Bible and the Koran as he lifted the spirits of the attentive crowd, all with prayerful hearts and tearful eyes. While the police had to block the road to control the crowds, yet the river (said to be connected to the Ganges of India) in all its peace and tranquillity offered a day away from the fear and fright of what the evening news may bring.

SATESH SOLOMON
Diego Martin