‘Guyana Day’ celebration brings community together in Schenectady

Sep 06, 2016 News

SCHENECTADY, New York (dailygazette.com) — Hundreds of people made their way to Grout Park on Sunday for a celebration of Guyanese history and culture.

Guyana on display: A colourful stall at the Guyana Day event in Schenectady, NY, last Sunday.

It started with dozens of cricket players setting up games around 10 in the morning. The pitchers, batsmen and fielders were soon joined by community members who began putting up tents and unfolding lawn chairs.
By 2:30 p.m., the event was in full swing, with music pulsing through speakers, friends socializing and attendees wheeling in coolers and snacks.
“That’s the most important thing about this event – it brings the community together,” said a man who traveled from Waterbury, Connecticut, to attend with family and friends.
The 12th Guyana Day Celebration was held in the Schenectady Park Sunday as an opportunity for Guyanese people and others to experience the culture and history of the nation of about 800,000 people, bordered by Brazil and Venezuela. Schenectady is home to a large Guyanese population, and the event has drawn a few hundred people the past couple years, regular attendees said. In addition to cricket, there was dancing, games, live entertainment, a bounce house and more.
The event held special significance this year, with Guyana celebrating its 50th anniversary of gaining independence from Great Britain. Events called Golden Jubilees happened in Guyana and cities around the world to mark the occasion.
Sunday’s celebration was free, and was sponsored by the Guyanese American Association of Schenectady and several other local businesses and organizations.
Many filtered into the park Sunday with children in tow, dragging in coolers and chairs. Some brought along their own tents for shade, while others made their way to the nearest tree to stay out of the sun.
A few cricket games took place simultaneously in the field, with tents popping up along the side for attendees to watch as other activities were set up.
Champa Ramaissoon said she came to the event from Queens, New York. It was her first time attending the celebration in Schenectady, she said, adding that it’s important to celebrate Guyanese culture.
Christina Rahiman, a Schenectady resident, said she’s been attending the festival for years. She enjoys getting to see other people who come from Guyana who she knew growing up.
Attendees ranged in age from toddlers to grandparents, and Rahiman said it’s significant for the younger community members to see the success of the event.
“All the kids get to see how well their parents and relatives get along,” she said. “Then those kids can see that and carry on the event in the future to keep the tradition going.”

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