-rekindles sense of pride in our Indian heritage
THE INDIAN Arrival Committee yesterday staged the Demerara leg of its annual Indian Arrival Day mela at the National Park, this year celebrating the 173rd anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana. The IAC had held melas in Berbice and Essequibo in a similar fashion.
The Georgetown mela was held at the National Park and saw in attendance hundreds of persons, including children and young babies.
Speaking to the many persons gathered, IAC Executive Member, Evan Radhay Persaud said that they must be proud to maintain and celebrate their Indian heritage, which has been one of the oldest civilisations in history, predating the Egyptian and Chinese civilisations.
He and other speakers before him alluded to the struggles of the Indians coming to Guyana, and the perilous turn that the voyage took for some of them who never made it to these shores alive.
A number of cultural groups performed fantastically at the Mela in the form of song, various forms of Indian dance and religious devotional pieces. Notable performances came from the Indian Cultural Centre, mandirs from across the country, and various musical ensembles, such as the Rajesh Dubraj Tassa Group and many others.
At the Mela, there were a number of booths selling Indian cultural paraphernalia as well as food items of many varieties. There were also toys and other baubles for children, and some of the booths gave persons the opportunity to win prizes for a modest sum.