WHILE Guyanese celebrated Phagwah last Monday, the celebration will be at its peak this weekend in the New York metro area among the large Guyanese population. Because Holi fell on a weekday, which is not a public holiday in NY, celebrants normally observe the festival the following weekend.
The Holi Sammelan Festival is on Saturday followed by the Phagwah Parade on Sunday, both in Richmond Hill. In addition, the City Council celebrated Holi on Friday and Guyanese in the Bronx and Jersey City will have their own parades.  In Queens, streets will be closed off for the parade while for the Sammelan, sidewalks will be closed next to the Lakshmi mandir which is hosting the festival that will attract thousands.
The sammelan consists of songs, dances, drama, magic, chowtals, speeches, poetry,
ceremonials, chanting, tassa drumming, and other forms of entertainment. It is 6 hours of non-stop entertainment and bhojan. TV monitors will be placed outside on the sidewalks so that revelers outside the temple compound can watch the stage performances. The program will be carried live on the Indo-Caribbean radio station and streamed over the internet at WICR.com (1620 A.M).  Tents with heaters will be assembled to provide shelter and house the make-shift kitchen during what is forecast to be freezing temperature.
The planners for the Sammellan say over 50 Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), including Mandirs are participating in the festivities. It is organized to inspire people to come together to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Indo-Caribbeans and Indo-Asians. The organizers hope that the portrayal of goodwill should generate positive feelings towards one another and help to heal deep-seated divisions within the community and beyond. It bolsters ethnic pride among the city’s Indo-Caribbean population. The organizers say that the “Holi Sammelan sends a powerful message that we are proud of our cultural heritage and that our presence in the USA must not be taken for granted”.
On Sunday, worshipping at the nearly fifty temples will culminate in several parades with the largest one being held on Liberty Avenue, starting at the Dr. Jagan Square between 133rd. Street and 123rd Street. The parade normally culminates at the Smokey Park with a cultural variety show where the rich Indo-Caribbean cultural talent will be on display.  Tens of thousands are expected at this parade.  The ones in Jersey City, the Bronx, and Orlando, Florida, normally attract a much smaller crowd.
The various celebrations unite diverse people giving them an opportunity to
express their passion for their cultural festivals and the size of the parade sends a powerful signal to government officials and politicians that the Guyanese-American population is a potent political force.