CHAGUANAS, TRINIDAD, October 15, 2006: A Trinidadian pundit recently visited South Africa for the purpose of reawakening the spirit of Hinduism among South Africa’s 1.7 million Hindus. Pundit Munelal Maharaj, of Lange Park, Chaguanas, spent three-weeks in South Africa with his wife, Naveeta and five-year old daughter, Vaishnavi, aimed at “recreating the Hindu Renaissance in South Africa.” He hosted nightly programs in cities such as Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Dundee and Johannesburg. “The tour was indeed an awakening to the thousands of people who eagerly flocked to the programs to enjoy the melodious voices of both my wife and myself. We also gave motivational lectures coupled with soul-stirring bhajans,” he said in an interview. “There were serious inter-active sessions as I walked through the aisles, and the audiences, particularly the young ones, expressed their thoughts and experiences in Hinduism or to ask questions on any subject on Hinduism,” Pundit Munelal related. “Many were eager to respond, and their comments ranged from personal miracles, to questions on rituals, superstition and philosophy. In the same vein, we jointly offered prayers and spiritual vibrations, positive healing energy for all those present and for all the peoples of South Africa,” he said. The theme of his journey was “Spirituality is simply connecting to God from within,” and Pundit Munelal said that spirituality is not about doing puja once a year, and then forgetting about God for the other 364 days. “Life is about living every moment with the knowledge that God is within you, and experiencing the peace and bliss that result from doing so. People commented that their lives were changed as a result of experiencing the peace and bliss that result from doing so,” Pundit Munelal said.
“These seminars developed a new practical dimension of Hinduism. Many youths were also greatly inspired by my challenge for them to come out of seclusion, and to come forward and become leaders in the society,” he said. “As our message hit the airwaves and the print media, we were overwhelmed with the participation of thousands of Hindu South Africans, who loved the powerful mix of devotion and spiritual teachings we presented at the 13 nightly sessions,” Pundit Munelal said. Additionally, the team were interviewed on the local radio stations, visited schools, homes for senior citizens, youth workshops and had a special workshop on “Suicide Prevention” with the Durban Police. When asked about what was memorable about his South African visit, Pundit Munelel remarked, “Visiting the home in the village of Phoenix, where Mahatma Gandhi once lived, was very touching to me. I saw his simple dirt house that contained the printing press where he began publication of The Indian Voice and I was struck by how simple his lifestyle was, yet how powerful his impact was on the world.” He continued, “Gandhiji was a model to us that we can follow our dharma in a simple and humble way, yet stand up as a lion against the injustices and evils of this world. South Africa can be proud to know that India had sent them Gandhiji, the lawyer, but South Africa returned to India a Mahatma (Great Soul).”
Pundit Munelal also observed that even though the distance between Trinidad and South Africa is great, “Our history, our culture and our traditions are tightly enmeshed. The majority of Indians living in South Africa are also descendants from indentured laborers brought by the British to work on the sugar cane plantations there. They arrived in South Africa from the same district of Uttar Pradesh as our forefathers did, some 10 years later,” he said. “Their traditions and religious practices are very similar to ours. Their style of pujas, rituals, weddings, funerals, cultural songs and dances vary little from ours. There is even similarity in the food, dhalpuri, which is not typically found in India. It is a very popular dish there. The Bhojpuri dialect is commonly spoken as well,” Pundit Munelal said. Pundit Munelal expects to return next year to continue the “Hindu Renaissance.”