THE Hindu festival of Phagwah or Holi, was celebrated on Friday at Queen’s College (QC) as the students from the school’s Hindu Society hosted their annual Phagwah Concert.

In a Bollywood fashion, the concert featured a skit explaining the significance of Phagwah and one of its origin stories while incorporating numerous dances, singing and modelling.

The skit explained the significance of the festival of colours through the classic ‘Radha Krishna’ love story and students, both from the religious society and from the general school populations, enacted this story. They showed that the love the God Krishna had for Radha never faltered even when they could not be together while on earth.

This story had the crowd going wild especially when the couple acting as Radha and Krishna portrayed the more romantic scenes. Also, never forgetting that such concerts have the ability to raise awareness on pertinent matters, a young fourth form student did a rendition of the popular ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ and he dedicated the song to persons who lost their lives to cancer.

After the concert ended, students of the college and even a few good- spirited teachers trampled outside to the rhythmic beats of the ‘tassa’ drums where the entire school ‘played Phagwah’ on the school’s lawn.

While the talents of the students were highlighted, there was no greater spectacle than the show of camaraderie among the students as they forgot any differences and celebrated the festival together- adorning each other in the beautiful colours.

Speaking briefly to the Guyana Chronicle, President of the Hindu Society, Ashley Anthony, highlighted that the show was a collaborative effort from all students even those outside of the religious society. Preparations began weeks in advance and the students found time to rehearse even with their packed class schedules.
“The crowd was very receptive to the show, and despite minor hiccups all in all, it came together nicely,” Anthony elaborated. She also highlighted that the powder used for the celebrations was provided free of cost to all students by the religious society.
The president urged too, “During this time of Holi, the Queen’s College Hindu Society would like to urge persons to repair any bad relationships, and to remind everyone that this is a time for forgiveness and moving forward.”