Thousands celebrate Phagwah 2018

By Lakhram Bhagirat

The Phagwah festival is testament to the multiculturalism of the Guyanese society as citizens from all walks of life smeared their friends and in some cases total strangers with vibrantly coloured powders. Phagwah is the Hindu festival of welcoming that originated in the northern part of India, quickly spreading throughout and was brought to this part of the world during the indentureship period.

On Friday, Guyanese celebrated Phagwah and as one moved about, the lively beats of the drums coupled with rang barse blasted from stereos while adults and children armed with buckets of water and sachets of gulaal (brightly coloured powder) lined the corner of every street, colouring everyone in the vicinity.
It was an intimately colourful affair over at the Indian Cultural Centre as hundreds of visitors and Guyanese gathered to celebrate with the Indian High Commissioner of Guyana as he hosted his annual Phagwah festival.

Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalalm Mahalingam said the festival of Holi could also be dubbed as the festival of love mirroring Valentine’s Day since one would forget all differences and smear others with the vibrant colours. He noted that the festival has a lot of origins, explaining the most popular one of the power drunk King called Hiranyakashipu and his wicked sister Holika.
Legend has it Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon from the heavens that made him practically immortal and quickly went around demanding that the citizens in his Kingdom worship him instead of god. He had a young son called Prahalad who refused to follow that order so he decided to kill him by ordering his soldiers to set Prahalad afire; however, while being set alight the young child repeatedly chanted the name of god and was unharmed.
King Hiranyakashipu had a sister called Holika who had a special sari that make her immune to fire, so she was ordered to sit in a fire with Prahalad so that he could be killed but in the end she ended up being reduced to ashes while her nephew remained unharmed. It was from that incident that the festival got its name ‘Holi’.
The Holi celebrations start on the night before with a Holika Dahan where people gather, perform religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil be destroyed the way Holika was killed in the fire. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi – a free-for-all festival of colours, where people smear each other with colours and drench each other with water.
Joining the festivities and smearing coloured powder on citizens and visitors at the Indian Cultural Centre was President David Granger.
In delivering the featured remarks during the cultural programme, the President said Phagwah is a great equaliser. He added that while Phagwah may be a Hindu festival, in Guyana it is more of a social one, adding that it is a testament to the rich diversity in the Guyanese society.
He stressed that it is heartening to see the Indian High Commissioner, through the Indian Cultural Centre, continuing the traditions of our ancestors. The event was indeed a true facilitator of social cohesion as Guyanese from all ethnic backgrounds took pride in colouring their friends.
“This is an important festival for us, it is a national festival and regardless of its religious significance, this is one that is very popular because of its vitality because all of us could share without feeling that we are not interfering in the religious cultural beliefs. We are a multicultural society and we embrace diversity. I urge that everyone embrace it, embrace the values. A festival like this helps to break down barriers,” the President stated.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Opposition Leader was Member of Parliament, Priya Manickchand, who related her memories of the festival. She noted that the colours serves as equalising factor since there are no distinctions between skin colour or texture of hair.
“We know the lessons of good overcoming evil and the spring lessons of Phagwah but the lesson that stuck with me about the celebration was that it was a great opportunity to demonstrate how we can equalise our societies. Guyana has gone a far way in recognising the value of each person, each group and this morning is an example of how we can all be celebrating and loving each other. I would like to see this happening every day. I believe that it is something we are capable of, I wish that we take a moment and understand the value of improving people to the best they can,” Manickchand remarked.

Georgetown’s grandeur
The Phagwah festival has a cultural and spiritual significance among various Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the time to rid oneself of past mistakes, to end conflicts by meeting and greeting others, to forget and forgive other for their past grievances/transgressions, to pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives.
In Guyana, Phagwah is a national holiday, and although it is a Hindu festival, its public outreach in the country has taken it beyond Hinduism into a national and popular cultural festival celebrated by Guyanese from all walks of life.
In Georgetown, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo joined Guyanese in the showering of coloured powder and abeer as he passed through the streets of Abouystown, Georgetown; Station Street, Kitty; among other areas.
One woman expressed that it was the first time she decided to join in the celebrations. “It feels great to celebrate with my fellow Guyanese, this is my first time that I’m actually coming out to play Phagwah and I think I’ll be doing this every year now.”
As one passed through the streets of Georgetown “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” was much more evident as figurative barriers were being broken and gulaal was being smeared across the faces of those who decided to participate.
Passion, enthusiasm, liveliness and pure love was all at the Guyana National Stadium, as thousands gathered there.
Traditionally, the colours of Holi celebrate the renewal that arrives with the flowers and colours of spring. Red, green, yellow, blue and black powders fly from rooftops and in crowded squares and the festival transcends classes and caste, as was the case at the Providence National Stadium.
The celebration there differed from the Indian Cultural Centre as the vibe at the Stadium bore more semblance to that of a J’Ouvert party.
“This is my first Holi experience and I totally love it. I know I will come back here to enjoy. I am in love with the colours and comradery here,” New York native James Schouten related.

Everest’s explosion
The Everest Ground was brought to life as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) hosted its annual Holi Utsav. The venue was consumed by a sea of vibrant colours as scores of participants engaged in the Phagwah activities, applying scented coloured powders and water onto each other.
Those who visited the ground became almost unrecognisable instantaneously, as they were transformed into multicoloured beings, with the hues of majestic blues, flamboyant purple, fiery oranges, delicate pinks, warm yellows among others, which were all melted together.
Both the young and the old celebrated the festival with the same enthusiasm, as they welcomed the season of spring. Most persons visited their respective temples after which they proceeded to the event to partake in the festivities.
Over past years, the event was hosted at the Dharmic Kendra, but due to the growing crowd each year, the event was moved to the Everest Ground to facilitate the immense number of people.
Present at the ceremony was President of the GHDS, Dr Vindhya Persaud who gave her remarks, stating “It reminds us of the triumph of good over evil and it allows us as people to let positive qualities, positive tendencies and all that is wholesome.”
The event featured many entertaining stage performances by local and international singers including Neval Chatelal of Trinidad; and dance numbers by the Dharmic Nritya Sangh.
Phagwah or Holi is referred to as the ‘Festival of Colours’. It marks the arrival of spring which is evident from the bright colours of abrack (powders) and abeer (liquid) used in the celebration. It symbolises the triumph of good over evil while invoking happiness, love, peace and goodwill. (Additional reporting by Rupadai Seenaraine and Yanalla Dalrymple)