By Vishnu Bisram
THE spirit of Phagwah has traversed a great distance from India where it originated, to the Indian diaspora, including Guyana, where it is a holiday.
Phagwah has been transplanted in New York over the last three decades and is now being celebrated with great enthusiasm in Florida, New Jersey, the Bronx, Ft. Lauderdale, and Toronto, among other North American cities.

The vibrancy of the festival is cherished by Indo-Caribbeans everywhere (and also enjoyed by others) and hence its public observance in places alien to Indo Guyanese Hindu culture. A Phagwah parade culminating with a large gathering is the star attraction of the festivities. The parade and celebration associated with Phagwah are institutionalised in the psyche of the Indo-Caribbean population, with some people from other ethnic groups also partaking in the festivities in New York.

People eagerly look forward to the festival which has been transplanted by Indian (Hindu) immigrants from Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname and has become an institution in the Richmond Hill community, the Bronx, Jersey City and elsewhere.  Without a parade there is no Phagwah celebration because there would be no public avenue to celebrate the joyous festival known for its vibrancy of colours. The parade has gained recognition in Queens and the Bronx, elsewhere if not in the wider city with politicians offering assistance to help pull it off; mainstream media report on it. Politicians and community leaders march in it.

And the police provide guidance and protection for the marchers. Thus, congrats are in order for the conceivers, founders, planners and organisers of the annual parade which was initiated in 1990 by Kalicharran, Ramlall, Dr Satish, Yashpal Soi, among others.

The parade has brought people together. Everyone who played a role in starting the celebration should be recognised and applauded for his or her contributions, never mind that they are divided and fail to see they are hurting the community through their division.

It is a great disappointment that the parade was not held last year and this year.  The festival was celebrated with fervour, zest and gusto among the several thousands who showed up for the parade annually for 30 years. Peoples’ clothing were dyed with hues of a spectrum of colours. Hugs and embraces were exchanged. Revellers thronged the streets and the park smearing faces with coloured powder and sprayed abeer to celebrate the festival of colour and joy, which heralds the advent of spring. People hugged each other wishing “Happy Holi” as a dozen floats made their way with groups singing and dancing behind to the accompaniment of drums or loud chowtaal music.

The meaning of Phagwah is to bury differences and organisers have resolved conflicts to come together to plan the celebrations. Lord Krishna and Swami Dayanand preached that message.  Unity would help in achieving a lot of goals and objectives for the Guyanese community, whereas infighting would defeat the purpose of having organisations.

With greater unity in the community on observing festivals, politicians would come forward to provide greater assistance to them. Let me take this opportunity to applaud the organisers of the parade for their hard work. I hope they will use their unity to help empower the community politically through the large number of people who celebrate the festival.
I, therefore, urge Guyanese community elders to work together to strengthen the community.

Yours truly
Vishnu Bisram