MOVIETOWNE Guyana, on Thursday, held a Holi Cultural Expo which showcased henna designing, make-up, face painting, canvas art, jewellery and more in the spirit of the festival of colours, Phagwah.

Devika Singh, Marketing Assistant of MovieTowne, explained to this newspaper that the company makes a special effort to celebrate each holiday and observance in Guyana.
“It has been well-received by people in the past; like our ‘Mash Expo’ which had quite a turnout in spite of the rain,” she said.

Singh said they were delighted to organise the event which showcased many small businesses and their products or services to the public.
Vickanand Deokie, the son of artist, Vick Deokie, was present at the event and praised his father’s history as a self-taught painter.

“It was a childhood hobby of my dad’s and after the pandemic started he had some time at home,” the young Deokie said, adding that he started scribbling with pens, pencils or “whatever he found his hands on”.

He said that after he and his mother saw his father’s skill which he started in the 1980s, they decided to gift him painting utensils. From there, the senior Deokie moved on to using different types of canvases, paints, brushes and methods of painting.

“Most of his inspiration comes from nature, past experiences, places we’ve been and things we’ve seen,” the young Deokie explained, adding that his father also works on commission and can even design artwork for business and living spaces.

Another exhibitor, Leisa Gibson of, ‘Leisa Salon N Beauty Supplies’, boasted her business “not only cater for the outside of the body but also the internal part. We have handmade soaps, body scrubs, body oils. For the internal parts tamarind concentrate, unsweetened sorrel, lime and ginger and more.”

A young makeup artist, Arifa Sahadeo, of ‘Makeup by Arifa’ and ‘Makeup by Arifa Cosmetics GY’, shared that she has been involved in cosmetology for seven years. As her mother was a cosmetologist, she grew up around the trade and had much exposure to the salon.

“I provide cosmetology services, classes for each course including nail technology, facials, manicures, pedicures and more. I also make homemade stuff: lip balms, lip scrubs; and they are made with all natural ingredients and it’s very beneficial for the skin,” Sahadeo said.