TRINIDAD, September 10, 2005: A National Panchoutie, led by Swami Prakashananda, has been formed to tackle the “unhealthy human condition of citizens” in Trinidad and Tobago. The Panchoutie was launched yesterday at Saith Park, Chaguanas. It is hoped that the “stakeholders” of society will use the forum to talk about crime, the breakdown of family and the poor standard of living being endured by some. “We are targeting groups such as the Hindu Prachar Kendra and the National Council for Indian Council,” Swami Prakshananda told the Daily Express. This group is convinced that crime, stress, family breakdown and suicides are the result of the unhealthy human condition of citizens. Swami Prakashananda is a disciple of the world-renowned Swami Chinmayananda and studied at the Chinmaya Ashram in Bombay. He also completed his LLB at Benares Hindu University. He founded the Chinmaya Ashram and Chinmaya Vidyalaya-school which integrates spiritual and secular education-both of which are in Carapichaima.The Panchoutie was a traditional system brought by indentured labourers to find ways to deal with social situations. The National Panchoutie intends to hold a Yagna from September 11 to 17 at Saith Park. The prayer sessions with focus on the Ninth Verse of the Bhagavad Gita. “We are using that verse as the foundation to highlight the necessity of the universality of brotherhood and the oneness of God,” the Swami explained. “We need unity right now, this country is divided along the lines of race, religion and politics. This is an attempt to cut across these boundaries. We need unity in order to take T&T forward.”
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