PHAGWAH, since time immemorial, has been the Hindu festival which ushers in the season of spring. As the flowers blossom into their beautiful colours, so too would persons colour each other brightly. And in Guyana, this is always taken to another level.

This year, the Festival of Colours was observed on March 21, a day that Guyanese were led to believe that time would stand still, as no shops would have been open and even the breeze itself would have stopped blowing. But it turned out to be quite the opposite.

For most, Phagwah started in the privacy of their homes; waking up to powder (or water, if you’re lucky) being thrown on their face. You know, just the usual things. And if that didn’t happen, it wouldn’t be too long before they did; and there were many hotspots in Guyana to be yourself coloured.

Over in Albouystown, you couldn’t distinguish whether it was Phagwah or a J’Ouvert – maybe it was both – but the main thing was, people were happy and colourful, and soaked. The same was for the (in)famous ‘Station Street’– that narrow place in Kitty, where you wouldn’t believe the hundreds of persons that pass through in just one day.

Other persons went to the National Stadium, which was touted to have the biggest Phagwah event and they enjoyed the sounds of Terry Gajraj or the flavour on scene, Stephen Ramphal.

And some? Revelled in the more traditional celebrations offered by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha at the Softball Ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Phagwah is also a festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil, and it is used to unite people. Guyana might have a multicultural society, but at the end of this day, Guyanese were certainly a multi-coloured people.