NEW YORK — Guyanese Hindus across the United States concluded the sacred period of Navratri fasting with vibrant and spiritually uplifting celebrations of Vijay Dashmi or Dussehra on Wednesday, October 1. The festival, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil, was marked by temple services, discourses, devotional singing, and cultural performances, including the symbolic burning of the effigy of Ravan in some communities.
This sacred observance, deeply rooted in Hindu traditions, has been faithfully preserved and practiced by Guyanese Hindus in the diaspora, particularly in the greater New York area and cities like Schenectady, Jersey City, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Miami, and Minneapolis. Guyanese communities across North America, the Caribbean, the UK, Canada, and Europe have established temples and mandirs where ancestral religious customs from Guyana continue to thrive.
In New York, temples such as Dayaram Mandir in Hollis, Queens, along with other Caribbean Hindu temples, drew large crowds for nine nights of Navratri worship that began on September 22 and concluded on September 30, followed by the observance of Dashmi on October 1. The celebrations included morning and evening offerings, devotional bhajans, kathas, and nightly aartee ceremonies, after which dinner was served to attendees. Worshippers donned colorful traditional attire, adding festive vibrance to the solemn and joyous atmosphere.
Prominent spiritual leaders including Pandit Rajin Balgobind of Berbice led nightly discourses under a large tent at the Cheddi Jagan Ground on 133rd Street off Liberty Avenue, Queens, drawing hundreds of devotees each night.
Navratri, one of the holiest periods on the Hindu calendar, is dedicated to the worship of the Divine Mother in her three principal forms: Durga (protector), Lakshmi (provider of wealth), and Saraswati (giver of knowledge). Each Goddess is honored over three nights of the nine-day festival. The period is marked by introspection, fasting, spiritual purification, and transformation — as devotees confront and strive to overcome internal enemies such as anger, greed, lust, and jealousy, replacing them with compassion, devotion, humility, and selfless service (sewa).
This practice continues a long-standing tradition in Guyana, where Hinduism has flourished despite historical challenges. Many families in the U.S. maintained their fasting traditions, either for the full nine days or selectively, as prescribed in the scriptures. Homes were adorned with altars and many invited pandits to perform special pujas.
The observance of Navratri and Vijay Dashmi also marks the beginning of the next major festive period for Hindus. In September, Guyanese Hindus had already observed Ganesh Utsav and Pitri Paksh. Coming up are the celebrations of Diwali (October 20), dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi, and Teerat or Kartik Purnima later in the month, which will conclude the annual Hindu festival cycle until the new season begins in February.
The continued preservation and institutionalization of these Hindu festivals by the Guyanese community — in the U.S., Canada, UK, and beyond — stand as a testament to their resilience and cultural pride. In recent years, increasing support and recognition from political leaders and local officials in the U.S. and other countries have underscored the growing influence and visibility of the Caribbean Hindu diaspora.
As Hindus believe, the various deities — whether male or female — are all manifestations of the one Supreme Being. This spirit of unity in diversity was evident in every temple and home where Navratri was observed, reaffirming the message of love, truth, and righteousness — values that are universal and eternal.
