— Indian Action Committee

The Indian Action Committee (IAC) extends Phagwah (Holi) greetings to all the citizens of Guyana, especially those who are guided by the philosophical teachings of Sanatan Dharma.Phagwah, or Holi, is a festival of Bharat (India) that has its roots in antiquity and celebrate the coming of a new Spring season, the drawing of a new year, and the triumph of good over evil.

Exuberance of this festival reflects the collective hope of people for progress, prosperity, and the concomitant betterment of their lives.

This festival of renewal most likely predated the Sarasvati Valley Civilisation, the world’s first significant civilization, which flourished between 5000 BCE and 2600 BCE.

Even though the culture landscape in Bharat had changed, from time to time, from the introduction of the Negroids followed by the Proto-Australoids, Dravidians, Mongoloids, Caucasians, Persians, Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, Huns, Arabs, Turks, Afghans, Mughals and Europeans, the festival of Holi emerged, survived, and flourished in Bharat, the world’s first melting pot.

Holi was brought to British Guiana by Hindus who arrived here as indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations 177 years ago, and was sustained by the majority of approximately 239,000 Bharatiyas who arrived on these shores between 1838 and 1917.

Phagwah was transplanted from a large sub-continent characterised by the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, to Guyana, a small South American land of dry and rainy seasons; and even though global warming is creating climatic havoc, the symbolism of Holi must not be lost.

The IAC therefore calls upon all the citizen of this multi-cultural land of Guyana to regard the great festival of Phagwah, or Holi — which celebrates life and hope, regardless of demography or geography — always as a focus for national unity.

Happy Holi from the IAC!