The Charlieville Shiv Mandir has been in existence for close to fifty (50) years. Many of the senior citizens would call it the Seewalaa, (Bhojpuri for Shivalaya- the home of the Shiva). Before it was located where it is now, it was situated on what is presently known as the Uriah Butler Highway, it was then known as the Bejucal Seewalaa, being situated close to the village of Bejucal.

 

Our Seewalaa has always and still attracts lots of pilgrims. Every Shiv Ratri hundreds of mendicants flock to the Mandir’s yard to solicit alms from pilgrims and one year it was found that few mendicants hired a maxi taxi to bring them to our Mandir and then return them to San Fernando, this was hilarious.

 

Our Mandir ha s lots of eminent Purohits who have preserved the light of Sanatana Dharma in our community. Namely the late Pundit Kundan Maharaj, late pundit Dilraj, Pundit Krishna Maharaj, Pundit Doodnath Vyas, Pundit Ramdath Vyas, Pundit Deodath Vyas and presently Pundit Satyanand Mahabir.

 

Charlieville Shiv Mandir is an independent Mandir, with no ties to any Hindu Organisation. Our primary goal is to embrace all aspects of Sanatana Dharma and spread the teaching of our way of life to all irrespective of caste, social standing, race or religion.

 

 In our goal of educating the future leaders of our country, we initiated a project of modernizing our Mandir to be in vogue with the present generation. In doing so we have commenced a library building project and Mandir facelift under the president of the Mandir, Shri Ramraj Mahabir and his team of hard working committee members and vibrant youth arm.

 

Besides having Shiv Ratri Festival, our Mandir celebrates Dussera (Devi Utsav) as done in North India, headed by Mahant Pundit Satyanand Mahabir. Every Nav Ratri during the Kartik Month, the image of Durga is created and worshipped for the nine nights. On Vijay Dasmi, the Murti of Devi Durga is paraded from Charlieville Shiv Mandir to Port of Spain, where she is taken to Ganga Sagar (Tyrico Bay- consecrated by Mahant Pundit Satyanand with water brought from the Ganga). Our Mandir is the only one out of Bharat Desh that conducts this practice.

 

Charlieville Shiv Mandir is always open to all; you are welcome to visit us on Sundays or on every full moon period when we have our monthly Sri Satyanarayan Puja. You are always home in the House of Shiva, our Seewalaa.