parties. With the advent of the NAR and then the UNC this polarization by religion has been on the decline however its existence is still felt with the UNC fielding a Muslim candidate in every election for the San Juan/Barataria seat since 1995 owing to the presence of a large Indo-Trinidadian Muslim population within this constituency. Notable Indo-Trinidadian politicians include: Basdeo Panday - 1st Prime Minister of Indo-Trinidadian descent Kamla Persad-Bissesar - 1st Female Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Rudranath Capildeo - Leader of the Opposition at the time of independence Bhadase Sagan Maraj - Leader of the Parliamentary wing (1958–1960) Ashford Sinanan - Opposition leader (1951-1956); West Indies Federation Opposition Leader (1958–1961) Rudranath Capildeo - party leader (1960–1969) Stephen Carpoondeo Maharaj - acting Opposition leader (1963–1965) Simbhoonath Capildeo - Opposition leader (1965) Vernon Jamadar - Opposition leader (1965–1972); party leader (1969–1972) Noor Mohamed Hassanali - first Muslim Head of State in the Western Hemisphere and the first Muslim and Indian to hold the office of President of Trinidad and Tobago (1987-1997) Adrian Cola Rienzi - Mayor of San Fernando and Member of the Legislative Council for Victoria (1937-1944) Raffique Shah - Opposition leader (1977-1978) Winston Dookeran - UNC party leader (2005-2006); COP party leader (2006-2011) Sarran Teelucksingh - Member of the Legislative Council for Caroni (1925-1946); first Indian elected to the Legislative Council, a predecessor of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobgao Isaac Hyatali - first Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago of Indo-Trinidadian descent Satnarine Sharma - first Hindu Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago Culture Indo–Trinidadian and Tobagonians have retained their distinctive heritage and culture, while also functioning in a multi-racial manner. The South Asian languages of their ancestors have largely been lost, although a number of these words have entered the Trinidadian vernacular. Indian movies, Indian music, and Indian cuisine have entered the mainstream culture of Trinidad and Tobago. Chutney music and chutney soca rivals calypso and soca music during the Carnival season. Holidays and Festivals Divali, Eid ul-Fitr, and Indian Arrival Day are national holidays, and Phagwah/ Holi, Maha Shivratri, Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Naumi, Sita Naumi, Navratri, Vijayadashami, Krishna Janmashtami, Radhastami, Saraswati Jayanti, Raksha Bandhan, Vivaha Panchami, Guru Purnima, Ganesh Chaturthi, Kartik Snan, Ratha Saptami, Kalbhairo Jayanti, Mesha Sankranti, Makar Sankranti, Chhath, Tulsi Vivah, Gita Jayanti, Ratha Yatra, Ramadan, Hosay (Ashura), Eid al-Adha, Mawlid, Shab-e-barat, Islamic New Year, and other Hindu and Muslim holidays