–with spirited chowtal session at State House

PRESIDENT David Granger last evening joined members of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha for a Chowtal session on the lawns of State House.

Chowtal is a genre of folk music which originated from the Bhojpuri Region of Northern India and has been preserved for over 178 years in Guyana.

In brief remarks after a spirited round of Chowtal singing, President Granger said the festivities associated with the festival of Holi are an expression of a culture that is part of the Guyanese experience, which started to flourish here after the country gained Independence.

He explained that these festivals contribute to national unity, in that they help citizens to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of the country’s diverse cultural mosaic.
The President, however, pointed out that most of the festivities are confined to the coastland, and urged the religious groups to visit riverine and hinterland communities and host some of these cultural activities there, so that people would get a better understanding of the Guyanese society.

“The fact that you have been able to preserve this tradition and this custom and still find joy in it, and other people can find joy in it, shows the power of culture; the power of retention of these norms,” President Granger said.

He also said the vibrant colours and fun associated with Phagwah, which heralds the beginning of spring, make it one of the most joyous festivals in Guyana. The festival itself, he said, encompasses everything about regeneration and rebirth.

Speaking about the high level of religious tolerance that exists in Guyana, the President said it is important for all citizens to appreciate each other’s faiths and roots so as to better appreciate themselves.

“We are not entitled to be exclusively hateful of other religions. We must be tolerant, because other religions may have truths which we ourselves may not be able to discover…

“All of our religions teach compassion; and when we lose that compassion, when we lose that love for fellow Man and woman, we take a dangerous road…. We see what is happening in countries where there is hatred,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ravi Dev, also a member of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha, said that a strong, all-embracing cultural policy is needed to bring together Guyana’s six peoples and move the nation forward.