Siparia
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Siparia is a town in southern Trinidad, in Trinidad and Tobago, south of Penal and west of Fyzabad. Originally a non-Mission Amerindian settlement, Siparia grew to be the administrative centre for County Saint Patrick. Today it is a commercial centre and market town serving the surrounding agricultural areas and oil fields. Siparia is also the seat of the Siparia Regional Corporation.
Siparia is the site of the annual festival of "La Divina Pastora," named for the church's patron saint. The festival occurs each year on the saint's day of La Divina Pastora, a few weeks after Easter. The same statue, a Black Virgin, is venerated by Hindus during a separate festival, held on Good Friday and Maundy Thursday. The Hindu celebration is often referred to the "Siparia Fete." She is La Divina Pastora, the Divine Shepherdess, a manifestation of the Virgin Mary, to Catholics, and Sipari Mai (Mother of Siparia) to Hindus. Sometimes Sipari Mai is associated with a particular Hindu goddess, such as Kali, sometimes she is a goddess in her own right. These two religious groups are most commonly associated with her, but persons of many other religions, including Muslims, Buddhists, and indigenous Waraoa Indians have been known to worship the popular saint.
The origin of the statue is unknown, but seems to have resided in the Siparia area since the 18thC.
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