SCORES of Guyanese from all backgrounds and faiths celebrated the Festival of Colours, Holi, on Monday, by participating in the annual festivity organised by the Indian High Commission at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC).

The event was attended by Prime Minister, Brigadier, (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal, and several other government officials and diplomats, including British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller.

In her feature address, Minister Persaud spoke on the importance of national unity that President Irfaan Ali has been echoing across the country.

According to her, “on behalf of our Excellency [Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali] the Government of Guyana, and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha…we are celebrating exactly the way it should be celebrated, filled with colours, enthusiasm, joy, energy, and a lot of dancing.

“Phagwah is such an inclusive festival, one that includes love, fraternity, joy, and every good thing. It has that spiritual connotation of the triumph of good over evil. I want every day beyond Holi, this feeling of Phagwah bringing us together in unity, bringing us together in this feeling of togetherness…as we celebrate life and humanity.”

Additionally, the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. Amit Telang, extended Phagwah greetings to President Ali and the entire Guyanese community.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this event a success. Special credit goes to President Ali and his government for making this festival a success. Holi/Phagwah would not have been this special if we were not in Guyana, and we celebrate it with all of our Guyanese friends, families, and members of the diplomatic community.”

Over the course of the celebration, attendees were treated to an abundance of powder, water, and a packed cultural programme filled with Hindu music, which had many on their feet.

The evidence of national and spiritual unity that President Ali speaks of was seen through the togetherness that was demonstrated by all.