PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar Saturday evening took time out from their busy schedule to join hundreds of Guyanese from all walks of life at the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Phagwah mela at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal.
The mela is an old tradition of the organisation and is held annually to usher in the festive season of Spring or Holi.
President Ramotar, in his address to the gathering, said that Guyanese are a blessed people.
“Each of the different cultures in our society will help to enrich and build each other…and that is the beauty of living in multi-cultural society,” the Head of State said.
The Government, he said, continues to support the development of every culture, helping them to understand their own roles and contributions in further developing Guyana.
The future, President Ramotar, said will have many challenges, but the government is committed and poised to take the country to even greater levels of development.
“If we put our energies together, and in the same direction, we will make Guyana beautiful… and our people will become stronger, more prosperous and live in a land of plenty,” President Ramotar said.

He also used the occasion to commend the work of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and urged that they continue to ensure that the significance of Phagwah is highlighted.
Among those in attendance were Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, other government officials, and members of diplomatic community.
Patrons were treated to an array of cultural presentations, including dances and songs.
The event also saw the first Folk Dance Festival, which attracted dance groups from Essequibo, Berbice and West Coast Demerara. The Saraswattie dance group from Essequibo won the competition.
A variety of dishes, sweets, Indian clothes and jewellery were also on sale at the event.
Phagwah will be celebrated on March 8, with the  Holika being burnt the evening before. (GINA)