THAT much-anticipated time of year is here again. The time of new beginnings and intense reflection and self-assessment occasioned by a set of three major religious festivals in curious juxtaposition.Today is the Hindu Phagwah. Less than a month ago we celebrated the Muslim Youman-Nabi. And in just a few weeks, it will be the Christian Easter.

This conjunction of celebratory happenings seems to tell us that amid the frolic and feasting, it would be remiss of us not to spend a few quiet moments reflecting on our reason for living, on the role we are to play on this great stage created by someone bigger than you and I.
For the Hindus, Phagwah marks the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. Today we will revel amid sparkling primary colours, symbolic of spring and luscious flowers, we will indulge in curries and sweet meats and visit relatives and friends.
Early this morning, the Hindus would have celebrated with a special puja; and all in all it would be the most colourful day of the year, promoting the brotherhood of all.
Then there is Youman-Nabi. Another national holiday we celebrated a few weeks ago, celebrating the birth of Mohammad and his retreat for several days to a cave in Mount Hera where he was given the first revelation of the Holy Koran by Allah.
On that day Muslims visited their masjids and partook of sweet meats and visited relatives and friends.
And not too long from now the Christians will celebrate Easter, the resurrection of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which tells of forgiveness of their sins and of their becoming children of God.
What a wonderful story this trio of religious vignettes tells.
And it could be a fitting prelude to that important day coming up in early May.
Youman Nabi, Phagwah and Easter are all national holidays in Guyana, and this has allowed our full participation in each other’s festival, with our unique multiplicity of faiths mixing one with the other, fashioning a striking weave of tolerance and understanding and of caring for each other.
From us at the Guyana Chronicle, Happy Phagwah to all!