Preparation begins among Guyanese diaspora for Phagwah 2026

Jan 25, 2026 Letters

Dear Editor,

In Guyana and in the diaspora, Hindus commenced preparations on Friday evening January 24 for this year’s annual Phagwah celebrations which will be observed on March 3 and 4.

January 24 also coincided with what is known as Vasant or Basant Panchami that marked the beginning of spring in India. Currently, the northern region of India is undergoing a very cold spell; northern USA and Europe are also experiencing an unusually cold spell. Vasant Panchami also coincided with the birth of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge. Hindus tend to propitiate the Goddess for education, learning, knowledge, wisdom, science, music, and art. On Friday, Hindus thronged Mandirs in Guyana and the diaspora for puja relating to Holika or Phagwah, Vasant Panchami, and Goddess Saraswati.

Holika is planted 40 days before the actual festival; a castor oil tree was planted amidst puja (havan service and reading from the scripture) to be set on fire, a huge bonfire, on midnight of March 3 followed by the colorful jollification of powders and water. A castor oil tree is used because it can thrive on any adverse environment. There are forty nights of festivities in communities congregating at someone’s home for chowtaal and traditional delicacies.

Guyanese Hindus have transplanted their festivals and cultural practices in the diaspora. They have established many mandirs or temples where they form communities. Hindus across Guyana and globally symbolically planted the holika in preparation for the burning of Holika Dahan to be followed by the festive celebration of Phagwah. Guyanese Hindus across the USA gathered Friday evening at Mandirs to plant holika and to sing chowtaal, folk music that emerged out of the Bhojpuri speaking belt of India. There are over one hundred Guyanese Mandirs in USA and dozens of Trinidadian Mandirs as well as Mandirs founded by Hindus from Fiji, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Africa.

Vasant Panchami is observed on the fifth day of the month of Magha, according to the Hindu calendar, the birth or jayanti of the deity Saraswati. She is well dressed and presented as playing the veena musical instrument. Hindus worshiped her on that day to dispel ignorance. According to Hindu scripture, the pursuit of knowledge is the highest form of worshiping. On Saraswati Jayanti, there is a celebration of wisdom over ignorance. Children are formally introduced to reading and writing and other aspects of learning. They tend to place books before the Murthi of Goddess Saraswati. The children pay reverence the Goddess to remove impediments to their learning.Hindus look forward for the Holi celebrations.

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