President: The festival of friendship and fellowship
PRESIDENT David Granger has extended best wishes to the people of Guyana on the occasion of the joyous festival of Holi (or Phagwah).
In his message to mark the occasion, President Granger said Holi is a spiritual event that recounts the adversities of Prahalad, his unshakeable faith and his eventual triumph over the forces of destruction. According to him, Holi is also a secular event that signifies rebirth and regeneration. “These are universal themes which are common to all the major religions in Guyana,” the Guyanese leader said.
Holi ? a colourful and vibrant festival ? was introduced into Guyana by the Hindu migrants who came to work and live here 181 years ago. The festival, with its origins in Hindu and Indian culture, has become national in character and is celebrated across the country, engendering hope and an outpouring of happiness. Holi fosters the spirit of togetherness. It celebrates our shared humanity, without regard to social differences and divisions. It conveys a powerful message of friendship and fellowship. I encourage Guyanese everywhere to enjoy the festival of Holi and to celebrate the values of social cohesion and national unity by rejecting the forces of division.
I wish everyone “Happy Holi!”
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Time to celebrate our togetherness
ON the auspicious occasion of Phagwah, the Festival of Colours, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has sent warm greetings to all Hindu brothers and sisters here.
In a short message, the prime minister said Phagwah or Holi is a unique celebration when Guyanese in friendship joyfully “play” with each other, using abirs of many colours, and even water and perfumes. Phagwah therefore is symbolic of the social interaction among our different races; the harmonious blending of our ethnicities and our multi-culturalism.
“This festive event is observed as a national holiday because all Guyanese embrace its universal message of good triumphing over evil,” Mr Nagamoootoo said. He added: “Sita and I send our sincere hope that Guyanese, both at home and abroad, would at this time also celebrate our togetherness, our diversity and our grace of tolerance.”
Happy Phagwah to all.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Use Holi to refresh your spirit–PNCR
THE Peoples’ National Congress Reform extends sincere Holi greetings to the Hindu Community of Guyana, in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the occasion of the celebration of the Festival of Phagwah in Guyana.
The significance of Phagwah is two fold. Its secular significance lies in the advent of the season of spring, and its real and symbolic implications of fertility rebirth, renewal and regeneration. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil, manifested by the destruction by Prahalad of his demonic father, King Hiranyakashipu.
We are a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country. Our diversity is an asset, not a liability. We are proud to belong to a society of many faiths. We are proud of the mosaic that is Guyana. As the celebrated Indian national, Kulapati Vani wrote many years ago, “… festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life.” We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.
Happy Holi to all Guyanese!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

PPP extends Phagwah greetings to all Guyanese
THE joyous festival of Phagwah or Holi is once again upon us and the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would like to take this opportunity to extend greetings to all Guyanese, especially members of the Hindu community.
Phagwah has become a national occasion to which Guyanese from all spheres of society look forward, not just for the excitement it brings, but also for the opportunity it affords in coming together through interaction and sharing in the spirit of what it truly represents. The diverse colours that are associated with the festival and which symbolises the commencement of the spring season, epitomises our nation’s rich diversity.
Like all of our national festivals, the significance of Phagwah speaks to, amongst other things, the triumph of good over evil. That universal belief is firmly rooted in societies and offers hope in the face of adversity and despondency. Let this comfort us as we confront our challenges.
As Guyanese participate in the various events across the country to mark the occasion, we extend best wishes and urge tolerance and respect in the celebrations.
Shubh Holi to all!
…………………………..

Phagwah celebration is a unifier-IAC
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 celebrates the coming of a new spring season, the dawning of a new year, and the triumph of good over evil. The 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 pre-dated the Sarasvati Valley Civilisation, the world’s first significant civilisation which existed between 5000 BCE and 2600 BCE.
Even though the cultural 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 180 years ago; it was sustained by the descendants of 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 Guyanese to regard the great festival of Phagwah or Holi, which celebrates life regardless of demography or geography, and always as a focus for a unified nation.
Shubh Holi.
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Holi is a unifying event– City mayor
JOYOUS Phagwah greetings to my Hindu brothers and sisters at home and in the diaspora. The significance of this holiday is dual: it celebrates the arrival of spring and the end of winter. Also, it is a very special time in the Hindu calendar of events, where purity of hearts is emphasised. This sacred holiday recalls the trials and triumph of Prahalad and signifies the victory of good over evil.
Holi is a unifying event that brings people together from all ethnicities, religious persuasions and political affiliations. It is heartening to see people pour on each other water and Abeer. This in itself is an example of how we can extend unity in other spheres of our social interactions.
The unity demonstrated during this period of celebrations reinforces the fact that social cohesion is necessary if our nation’s motto, One people, One nation, and One destiny is to be truly realised. Moreover, it fosters community spirit, removes those barriers that divide us as a people and showcases the uniqueness of our cultural diversity. I urge us, to allow unity to prevail regardless of our culture, colour or race. Remember, in unity there is strength, as we celebrate let us pray for peace and embrace unity.
Happy Phagwah to all Guyanese.
Pandit Ubraj Narine
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Phagwah offers pertinent lessons for us to improve on weaknesses
THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) takes this opportunity to extend to all Guyanese, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters, greetings on the occasion of Phagwah or Holi, a national holiday. Over time, this event has transcended religious boundaries to become a truly and much anticipated national festival. It is one that serves to bring together, Guyanese from all walks of life, as is evident by the sense of fun and frolic that has become its hallmark.
As the occasion is observed, the commission urges that its significance through the pertinent messages be foremost in our minds. Significant is its underlying messages of the triumph of good over evil as exemplified by the story of Prahalad and which continues to be an inspiration for the advancement of humanity.
Characteristic of this joyous occasion is the plethora of colours that mix and engulf the landscape. That not only signifies the advent of spring and the blooming of flowers, but in the context of our dear nation, a demonstration of the vibrant intertwining of our rich diversity that creates that enviable and beautiful kaleidoscope that defines who we are as a people.
It is a reflection of what can be achieved from a combination of efforts as we endeavour together for the realisation of our national motto. It is also demonstrative of how as a nation we embrace our cultural diversity. The countrywide participation by Guyanese from all backgrounds must be seen as sending a strong message of tolerance, which is vital to the efforts of the promotion of harmony and unity.
That therefore, offers pertinent lessons for us all and an impetus for increased and sustained efforts to build upon our strengths and improve on weaknesses. It allows for the enhancement of our capacity to overcome inherent challenges to foster togetherness. The commission also takes this opportunity to urge utmost respect for the occasion and for it to be observed and celebrated as advised by the Hindu community.
Phagwah also marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, a time that is associated with reflection and introspection. It therefore offers us all that opportunity to take stock in gauging our strengths and weaknesses and for the imbuing of a sense of renewal to help fortify us for much-needed success in our well-intended endeavours. Let the vibrancy of the celebrations and the splashing of diverse colours continue to be tools of unification, so as to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Regards
Shubh Holi to all!
Ethnic Relations Commission