Labasa temple keeps Girmitiya heritage alive through Ram Leela

The energy to survive and overcome the trauma, abuse and torture of the British towards girmitiyas when they worked in sugarcane farms in Fiji were possible through their strong religious Hindu beliefs. 

Hinduism was one of the dominant religious which the girmitiyas practiced and learnt how to overcome obstacles by following their Hindu faith during their stay and later settlement in Fiji. 

Unity among each other and group of girmitiyas helped them persevere all struggles faced. 

In Labasa, this unity has led to more than 123 years of temple existence of Bulileka Ram Leela mandir with a star attraction, the Ram Leela festival continuing all these years.

This is the gist of the temple committee trustee, Sudesh Prakesh.

Mr Prakesh said the temple had stood the test of time and is one of the largest Hindu Ram Mandir temples in the southern hemisphere. 

He said attendance to the festivities remains good with some devotees travelling from Suva and abroad for annual occasions. 

Hindu youths depict the life of Lord Rama during the Ram Leela celebrations at the Bulileka Ram Leela Temple in Labasa.

Photo: Sampras Anand

Mr Prakesh said the unity and passion of devotees and temple management ensured such festivity like the Ram Leela festival survived these many years. 

The Ram Leela festivity is a celebration of the life of Lord Rama from his birth until his death where Lord Rama's struggles were enacted in skits and dramas to the devotees. 

"We open the first page of the Holy Ramayan and on the last day (Sunday) we set alight a fire to the Ravana statue," he said. 

The burning of Ravana's statue indicated the triumph of good over evil since Ravana was a villain. 

Mr Prakesh emphasised to youths and devotees to learn from the life of Lord Rama of resilience to overcome struggles in life.  

"The Ram Leela shows how our Girmitiyas forefathers prioritised the festivity and spent days away from home to come to Labasa to attend the festivity".

In those days the lack of a television set or limited Ramayan books led to people travelling from far to attend. 

However, he believed this interest declined with people visualising these scenes on TV or mobile devices, so we encourage them to come to this festivity," he said. 

Temple executive member, Sarita Devi, said for youths, they need to embrace their culture and value Hinduism to build a productive character. 

Character building is important and following the path of good was portrayed in many of the previously hosted Ram Leela skits. 

She thanked people from all races who occasionally attended and acknowledged the iTaukei residents for attending the mela. 

"I ask people to continue this mela and to youths, you have to keep this temple tradition alive for many more years," she added. 

Hindu devotees turned up in good numbers to celebrate the Ram Leela festivity at the Bulileka Ram Leela Temple in Labasa.

Photo: Sampras Anand