By Shamar Meusa
AS Hindus in Guyana and around the world celebrate Phagwah/Holi, Pandit Jagmohan Persaud, attached to the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, is urging those across Guyana to keep celebrations clean and to remember the significance of the holiday.

Giving a brief background, the pandit told The Buzz that Phagwah emerged out of the Hindu Month ‘Phalgun’ which is the last month of the Hindu year.
As such, he said that this is when ancient man was influenced by the season and by the time.

“Simply with the change of season,” he explained, “their hearts were lifted in joyous jubilation and they burst into celebration by capturing the different colours of the season and imitating it.”

To this end, Persaud added that the Phagwah festival provides us with an opportunity for equality, and is a time where we should appreciate that we can work together and all have one appearance.

As various celebrations are expected to take place countrywide, the Hindu religious leader advised those going to join the festivities to respect the religious significance of the festival and let good sense prevail.

“Ultimately, Phagwah is something that should build more fraternity. It is a time when we should unite, it is a time when we should have more jubilation, it is a time when we should have more celebration and not to have enmity.

“So, do not do anything that is ailing to the festival, more so, do not do anything to desecrate the spiritual value,” Persaud expressed.

Speaking on behalf of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, the pandit stated that the celebration is not to be smeared with alcohol even as he added that it should be fun, but clean fun.

Persaud observed that over the years the observance has moved beyond the walls of the temples and has occupied public space to be celebrated by all Guyanese.

He went on to say that he is happy that society has grown further in observance. He called for us to reflect on the hardships of our fore parents as they worked to bring the world where it is today.

When asked how the implementation of the latest COVID-19 guidelines will change the way the holiday has been observed for the past two years, he said excitedly that it will change celebrations tremendously.

He noted that at the level of the Dharmic Sabha, all temples will burn their Holika and devotees will gather to celebrate.