I write to applaud the organisers of the Holi Samellan and Phagwah parade in Queens on Saturday and Sunday.  Tens of thousands of celebrants turned up to play “Phagwah” in Richmond Hill on Sunday afternoon on Liberty Avenue and at the Smokey Park for the 22nd annual edition of the Phagwah parade. People of all ages and ethnic groups celebrated the festival with fervour along the parade route as well as in the park. The scene was one of unbridled enthusiasm, especially at the park where there was a no holds barred atmosphere with everyone becoming a victim of abeer and powder.
The parade, founded by Ramesh Kalicharran and Pandits Ramlall and Satish 21 years ago, was organized by the Hindu Parades and Festival Committee. This year’s Grand Marshalls were Richmond Hill City Councilmen Eric Ulrich and Ruben Wills and State Senator Joe Addaboo. Dharmacharyas Pandits Ramlall and Rishi Misir and other organizers led the parade. Several other politicians and community leaders also joined the parade at the head and at the park. Many people marched behind the floats with banners of their organizations proudly displaying the flags of their home nations (U.S, Guyana, Suriname, India and Jamaica) draped around their bodies with some even using it as “rummal” wrapped around their heads.
Thousands of spectators lined the parade route on Liberty Avenue (from 133 to 124 Streets) clapping and wining to the rhythmic music cheering the marchers in the magnificent parade of a dozen floats. Boisterous music in the form of tassa and chowtaal emanated from the trucks as they made their way down the avenue.
On the streets and at the park, people engaged in playful jollification sprinkling colourful gulal powder on each other. Their faces and hair and clothing were dyed with the colours of the rainbow and hues of a spectrum of other colours. Hugs and embraces were exchanged with the message of “Shubh Holi” and “Holi Hai”.  A theme song – “Holi ki hai raghuveerah …” was repeated again and again through the parade route.  Revellers danced to the enchanting music of chowtaal and tassa (tarapiti drum) and to Bollywood Phagwah songs.
Many groups came with dholaks, jaals and majeeras with followers clapping, dancing and singing Chowtal songs. People were dressed in colourful traditional garb. Many Africans, Muslims, Whites and Hispanics, some behind temple banners, were seen in the parade clapping and dancing to the rhythmic tunes. Some of them also brought their children who were bathed in colours and who also joined in the celebration dousing gulal on others.
The park reverberated with singing renditions and the ringing sound of various musical instruments. It was a picturesque scene. Participants clad in traditional apparel were bathed in colours. The children were running around spurting abeer on each other. Everyone was drenched in the multi-colours with their faces coated with a variety of colours. It was a truly national festival that brought people together. They had a lovely time.
Revellers danced to the enchanting fast-tempo music and to Hindi and local Guyanese songs. “O Rangh-a-bar-say” from the Bollywood movie “Silsila” sung by the
legendary Amitabh Bachan, was sung repeatedly.  At the park, there were speeches from the politicians as well as the singing of bhajans, chowtals, kirtans, and dances.
Separately, a gathering of hundreds celebrated Phagwah with fervour and enthusiasm on Saturday afternoon at the Maha Lakshmi Mandir in Richmond Hill.  The sammelan featured a cultural variety show of dancing, singing, tassa drumming, speeches, drama skits, and magic.  Some 25 organizations and mandirs participated in the mela that was coordinated by Dr. Tara Singh, Shrad Kublall, and others. The programme was carried live on the Indo-Caribbean radio station WICR 1620 A.M and was streamed live over the internet.
Councilman Ruben Wills graced the event and honoured several community leaders including Dr. Tara Singh and Pandit Ramrattan.