PM Kamla to celebrate Shiva Raatri in Penal

File Photo: PM Kamla takes part in Puja

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is scheduled to visit the Patiram Trace Temple in  Penal on Wednesday night for the celebration of Maha Shivaratri. 

The celebration is one of the most signficant in the Hindu calendar. According to Hindu scriptures, Shiva is the destroyer of evil in the Holy Trinity of Bramha (creator) Vishnu (sustainer) and Shiva.


It is said that on this special night, devotees worship Shiva for saving the world from taxic poisons that threatened to destroy the planet and everything in it. The poisons came from the ocean and Shiva swallowed it all, turning blue.

That is why images of Shiva show his complextion as blue. 

Devotees rushed to save Shiva by pouring water on him, which explains the ritual of pouring water on the Lingam, which is one of the representations of Shiva.


Maha Shiv Raatri (the great night of Shiva) is celebrated by Hindus around the world. In Trinidad and Tobago devotees will attend prayers and engage in kirtan - singing of devotional songs - all evening until the midnight hour when they will make offerings to Shiva and throw water (or milk) to symbolise the event to which the celebration is tied.