Prime Minister joins in Phagwah Celebrations at Kendra and Bath Settlement.

Georgetown, GINA, March 11, 2009

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds continued Phagwah celebrations today with hundreds of Guyanese at the Bath Settlement Community Centre, West Coast Berbice.
            The Prime Minister was drenched with colourful abeer and powders as he joined in celebrating Phagwah, popularly known as the festival of colours.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds addressing the gathering at the Phagwah celebrations at Bath Settlement WCB.

            The event showcased a cultural programme with dancing, chowtal and chutney singing and featured Indian cuisine, art and craft, jewellery, games and the spraying of colourful powder and abeer.
The Prime Minister in his message to the gathering at Bath Community Centre Ground said the event marked the end of one season and the beginning of another as he reflected on the story of Phagwah which is based on the good Prince Prahalad who defied his father, going with his aunt into the fire but she was consumed and he came out.

Prime Minister Hinds throws powder on a celebrant at Phagwah celebrations in Berbice.

The Prime Minister also commented on the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s involvement in the observance of the event.
The main emphasis of the festival is on the burning of the ‘Holika’. The origin of the traditional lighting of Holika is attributed by some to the burning of demonesses like Holika, who represent evil.
            During the evening Prime Minister Hinds also visited the Prashad Nagar Kendra where he extended wishes for an enjoyable Phagwah to all. He concluded his evening with a stroll from the Kendra to his Main Street residence as he greeted passers by who were returning home from Phagwah celebrations.

Celebrants spraying powder and abeer during the Phagwah celebration Kendra, Prashad Nagar.

Earlier in the day the Prime Minister joined with Hindus at the Indian Cultural Centre, Prashad Nagar to celebrate Phagwah where he urged that the lesson of Phagwah which symbolizes the triumph of good over evil be used to confront difficulties and to re-energise people’s lives. Prime Minister Hinds said that the story tells all that if we persevere in doing good, evil will be overcome.     
            Phagwah is a national holiday in Guyana and is the Hindu celebration of the spring festival and the dawning of the New Year. The festival was brought to British Guiana by Hindus who arrived as indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations over 170 years ago.

 A section of the crowd celebrating Phagwah at Bath Settlement West Coast Berbice.

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