TRINIDAD and TOBAGO, November 5, 2025 (Trinidad Express): As many Hindus across the nation observe the occasion of Kartik Snaan today, one pundit is appealing to the community to keep the tradition alive. Spiritual head of the Munroe Road Shiv Mandir Pundit Navin Omadath Maharaj says the observance, traditionally practiced at the beaches and rivers, is important as it fosters and uplifts community spirit. Kartik Snaan, which marks the culmination of a sacred period for Hindus starting with Ganesh Utsav, Nav Ratri and Divali, has endured since the arrival of East Indians to T&T, he noted. However, with the increased dependence on social media, Maharaj believes communal bonds have been ­impacted. “With social media, we’ve grown detached and dissociated that we no longer take the time to foster social bonds. Kartik Snaan presents the opportunity for reconnecting as a community,” he told the Express yesterday in a telephone interview.

In the past, he said the observation created the opportunity for community worship. “Our forefathers would engage in communal worship over a one-year period. It was observed at different homes each month. It was a shared responsibility and the community would assist in off-setting the costs. So, it became the binding force for the community. The culmination of that would be Kartik Snaan, bringing closure to a year of worship,” Maharaj explained. He said the observance has encouraged socio-cultural ties, boosting community spirit, and has promoted ecological sustainability, as an occasion marked by its connection to the environment. Noting that participation in Kartik Snaan has declined over the years, he urged devotees to not neglect the observation. “Keep it alive. It should be kept alive. It is an important part of our tradition. On a personal level, it fosters spiritual growth. On a community level…societal level, it is a reflection of bonding,” he continued.

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