2018 PHAGWAH MESSAGES

Mar 01, 2018 News

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Today our Hindu brothers and sisters are celebrating Phagwah – an event that amplifies the importance of good over evil. We here at Kaieteur News join the Hindu community to commemorate Phagwah 2018.
Below are a few messages in honour of the celebration of Phagwah.

PRESIDENT DAVID GRANGER
Holi, in the spiritual sense, recounts the trials and triumph of Prahalad.  It reminds us of the virtue of an unshakeable belief in God and the inevitability of the triumph of good over evil.
Holi, in a secular sense, fosters faith in the future by celebrating rebirth and regeneration. These are universal themes which are common to all the major religions in Guyana.
Holi is a unifying festival that helps to break down barriers of class, race and religion. When people shower each other with abrack or abeer, they do so usually without regard to the status they enjoy in society or the God they worship.
Holi is an enduring example of cultural retention. The festival was brought to Guyana by Indian indentured immigrants who came to work on the sugar plantations 180 years ago.
The festival implanted hope by assuring immigrants that good would overcome evil, that enlightenment would overcome ignorance and that right would overcome might. Immigrants were thrust into a strange land but they drew strength and succor from their faith and festivals.
Holicelebrations, in our multi-cultural country, bring people together.  They play a vital role in social cohesion by reinforcing community identity; fostering healthy and helpful relations between persons of different cultures; dismantling barriers which have traditionally divided our people and by implanting spiritual values of hope and togetherness.
I urge communities, countrywide, to celebrate this festival with faith and fervour.  I encourage mass celebrations because they promote community identity and reinforce bonds of social solidarity. Respect for cultural diversity is at the heart of social cohesion.
Holi must preserve its vitality as a festival which unities communities. It must be celebrated vigorously at the community level so that we can have more cohesive communities.
Holi helps to break down barriers of division and bring people together, particularly at the community level.  We must build a more cohesive country beginning within and among our communities.
Happy Holi!

PEOPLE’S NATIONAL CONGRESS REFORM
The People’s National Congress Reform [PNC/R] extends sincere Holi greetings to the Hindu Community of Guyana in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the celebration of the Festival of Phagwah.
All Guyanese embrace Phagwah or Holi. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, the end of winter and for many, a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forgive and forget and repair broken relationships.
The significance of Phagwah is two-fold. Its secular significance lies in the advent of the season of spring, and its real and allegorical implications of fertility, rebirth, renewal and regeneration. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil, manifested by the destruction by Prahalada of his demonic father, King Hiranyakashipu.
As the celebrated Indian national, KulapatiVani wrote many years ago, “… festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life,” we urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.
 

GUYANA AGRICULTURAL AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union [GAWU] joins with the Hindu community and indeed all other Guyanese in celebrating this year’s Festival of Holi.
Though it has its roots in the Hindu community, this Festival is generally recognized as an integral part of our Guyanese social and cultural history and Holi has evolved into a truly national celebration. Holi, popularly known as Phagwah, is now embraced by numerous sections of the population and is yet another expression of our diversity. GAWU sees the togetherness in joyous colourful celebration on this occasion as an example of the need to forge common efforts to bring about and ensure the well-being, peace of mind and steady enhancement of the prosperity of our people. The spirit of unity that is so well manifested on this occasion is testimony to the good prospects we have to strengthen our nation and overcome divisiveness.
GAWU realises that the messages of unity, goodwill and optimism exchanged during such Festivals as Christmas, Mashramani, Eid and Phagwah are positive contributions to instil hope and productive relationships between our people and build strong foundations for our future generations. In this regard, we feel that discriminating practices, whatever their form and a callous attitude to sections of the population will not serve to promote a national environment of trust, confidence and genuine togetherness so vital to peace and a healthy economy.
It is appropriate to recall the narrative linked to Phagwah which speaks of the defeat of intrigues and the triumph of a just cause. Thus, we are optimistic that our economic hardship that the trauma stemming from crime and growing want of retrenchment will be overcome soon and completely.
May the understanding associated by Festivals like Holi lead to a united and better country where our people of different faiths will take pride in our progress and developments knowing that a secured future is being built for all.
Happy Holi 2018 from GAWU!
INDIAN ACTION COMMITTEE
The Indian Action Committee (IAC) extends Phagwah (Holi) greetings to all the citizens of Guyana, especially those who are guided by the philosophical teachings of Sanatan Dharma.
Phagwah or Holi is a festival of Bharat (India) that has its roots in antiquity and celebrates the coming of a new spring season, the dawning of a new year, and the triumph of good over evil. The exuberance of this festival reflects the collective hope of people for progress, prosperity and the concomitant betterment of their lives.
This festival of renewal most likely pre-dated the Sarasvati Valley Civilisation, the world’s first significant civilization which existed between 5000 BCE and 2600 BCE.
Even though the cultural landscape in Bharat had changed from time to time from the introduction of the Negroids followed by the Proto- Australoids , Dravidians, Mongoloids, Caucasians, Persians, Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, Huns, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Mughals and Europeans, the festival of Holi emerged, survived and flourished in Bharat, the world’s first melting pot.
Holi was brought to British Guiana by Hindus who arrived here as indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations 180years ago and was sustained by the descendants of the majority of approximately 239,000 Bharatiyas who arrived on these shores between 1838 and 1917.
Phagwah was transplanted from a large sub-continent, characterized  by the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, to Guyana, a small South American land of dry and rainy seasons, and even though global warming is creating climatic havoc, the symbolism of Holi must not be lost.
The IAC, therefore, calls upon all Guyanese to regard the great festival of Phagwah or Holi, which celebrates life regardless of demography or geography, and always as a focus for a unified nation.
Shubh Holi.

GUYANA HINDU DHARMIC SABHA [Dr. VINDHYA VASINI PERSAUD]
Holi or Phagwah is celebrated at the end of the Hindu calendar year in the dark half of the Hindu month of Phalgun.  Phagwah is derived from the word Phalgun. Phagwah heralds the Hindu New Year which is celebrated fifteen days after the festival on the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month of CHAIT.
Also called Holi, the word comes from the Sanskrit word “Hola” which means grain.  The festival coincides with the harvest of the spring crop and is considered a Spring or Vasant festival.  Holi commemorates the regeneration of nature from her slumber. An air of joy pervades the home and the family expresses affection by greeting each other in a dignified manner.  Children touch the feet of their parents, spray them with perfume and place ABRAK and powder on their faces.  Parents bless their children and wish them not only HOLI KE SHUBH KAAMNAYEA but a bright and prosperous future.  Greetings are extended to relatives and friends by squirting them playfully with abeer and placing abrak/gulal on their faces. The colours of the abrak and abeer reflect the vivid hues of spring as at this time nature blooms in abundance.
Holi is all embracing and possesses an unparalleled social dimension which is conducive to reunion, exchanges and togetherness occurring in an atmosphere of absolute cordiality.  The festival is proletarian in outlook with elements which spontaneously fashion an atmosphere of total equality and people from all walks of life and social strata are literally engulfed in merriment, joy and happiness. Holi transcends all barriers.  There is complete unity.  The RANG or colours which smear us and make us virtually unidentifiable emphasizes the oneness of humanity or the famous Hindu concept VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM – Humanity is one family.
With the passage of time, the legend of Prince Prahalad and his despot father King HIRANYAKASHYAP became associated with the festival.  In this story, the event where the King sought to have his saintly son consumed by fire is recaptured.  The King’s sister Holika had a boon which made her immune to the effects of fire.  Prahalad was placed on her lap in a pyre in an attempt by his father to have him killed.  Instead,  the cruel aunt Holika was consumed and the saintly Prince  Prahalad escaped unscathed.
In Guyana and the Caribbean; much like UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA, a pyre is built and burnt reminiscent of this event on the eve of Holi- Holika Dahan. On Holi morning the ash is collected and placed on foreheads symbolic of the triumph of good over evil.
Holi is a time for reflection and analysis.  Consequently the merriment and joy which Holi brings should not make us oblivious of the true significance of the festival. Holi does not license anyone to recklessly and want only drench passers-by or to barge into people’s homes and splash water on the occupants. Holi should never be associated in any way with events not in consonance with its spiritual dimension; no alcohol, vulgar and lewd music, barbeques and similar activities should be associated with Holi or Phagwah. These acts are against the spirit of our lovely Holi festival and should not form part of the Phagwah celebration. Every effort made to divest this unique festival of practices alien to Phagwah.
On behalf of the Dharmic family of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, I take this opportunity to extend Holi greetings to all my brothers and sisters – all of Guyana and wish you the infinite blessings of Bhagwan Krishna. Shubh Holi!
HOLI KA SHUBH KAAMNAYEA!

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