Trinidad and Tobago is considering plans to establish a Ram Mandir (temple) in its capital city, as the Caribbean nation seeks to strengthen its position as a cultural and spiritual hub for Hinduism in the Western Hemisphere.
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath announced the government’s strong support for the initiative during discussions with religious leaders, including representatives who facilitated the arrival of a Ram Lalla idol replica from Ayodhya earlier this year.
“Trinidad and Tobago is often referred to as ‘Ramayan country,’” Padarath said, highlighting the nation’s unique role in preserving Hindu traditions outside India. “The Ram Lalla initiative is something that we welcome—it is something we support.”
The minister revealed that government officials are actively exploring ways to advance the temple project, viewing it as both a spiritual endeavour and a potential tourism draw for the twin-island nation.
Prem Bhandari, founder of the Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir in New York, has proposed the creation of an “Ayodhya Nagari”—a Hindu spiritual and cultural hub for devotees in North America who may not be able to travel to the holy city of Ayodhya in India.
Bhandari presented the proposal to Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The initiative follows the unveiling of a replica of the Ram Lalla idol from Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir in Trinidad in May 2025. The ceremony, jointly organised by Bhandari and Amit Alagh, chairperson of the Ayodhya Shri Ram Organisation in Trinidad and Tobago, drew thousands of devotees and marked a milestone for the country’s large Indian diaspora.
Earlier this year, more than 10,000 worshippers gathered in Port of Spain to welcome the idol replica with deep emotion and reverence, underscoring the community’s enduring cultural and spiritual connection to India.
With Hindus comprising a significant portion of Trinidad and Tobago’s 1.5 million population, the country remains one of the few in the Americas where Hindu religious and cultural practices are deeply woven into national life.
Minister Padarath emphasised that Trinidad and Tobago has become a “mecca” for Hindu religious expression in the Caribbean, where traditions such as Bhagwat Katha and Ramayan recitations have been preserved for generations since the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in the 19th century.
“A lot of the cultural and religious expression of India—through Hinduism in particular—has been maintained and kept alive here,” he said, adding that the proposed temple would serve multiple purposes beyond worship, including education, cultural preservation, and tourism.
The government views the Ram Mandir project as an opportunity to promote religious tourism, while deepening awareness and devotion to Lord Ram’s teachings among local and international devotees.
The announcement comes ahead of Diwali celebrations on October 20, when Trinidad and Tobago will observe the Festival of Lights with traditional Indian delicacies and the lighting of thousands of diyas (oil lamps) across the islands.
Diwali is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, reflecting the integration of Hindu values and customs into the nation’s multicultural identity.
Minister Padarath said that “major announcements” regarding the Ram Mandir and related initiatives to strengthen Hindu religious life in the country are expected in the coming months.
The proposed Ram Mandir would join the many existing temples across Trinidad and Tobago but would hold special significance for its connection to the sacred site in Ayodhya and its potential to attract pilgrims from across the global Indian diaspora.
(ANI)