I write to express appreciation for the many volunteers (Indo-Caribbean, Indian national, others) who perform yeoman, selfless, altruistic community service to improve the lives of the diaspora (USA, Canada, elsewhere) in a variety of areas – religious, economic, cultural, educational, legal, housing, grants or charities, etc. Several donate money to mandirs, churches, masjids for their religious activities. Some even volunteered time to provide care for the sick, disabled and elderly and to tutor young minds gratis. Some organized cultural programs; there were so many cultural variety programs at mandirs, school auditoriums, and halls. Some volunteered at food pantries. Some prepared meals for the poor and homeless. Some hosted lunches and dinners for seniors. Some assisted those who have been keeping fast for Ramadan and Lent and those who fasted for several recent Hindu festivals and will fast for the upcoming Navratri festival starting on March 19. Volunteers brought snacks to break the fast or observance of the festivals.
At the recent Holi celebrations earlier this month and indeed in earlier celebrations of Hindus festivals (Shivratri, etc.) and national days like Republic Day and Independence Day, volunteers prepared special meals and a variety of snacks related to the festivals for the guests, worshippers, and celebrants.
At the annual 2026 Phagwah (Holi) Celebration last Tuesday March 10 at the borough office, the President honored an Indo-Caribbean and a national each from Nepal, Bangladesh and India for volunteerism. The honorees not only assisted with planning the annual celebration of Holi but also performed other community work and assisted in the organizing of celebrations of Hindu festivals. On Holi, several colleges, politicians and NGOs hosted celebrations over the last week. Mandirs also hosted Holi celebrations. Some colleges plan to hold observances later in the month as the temperature rises. New York City’s mayor Zoran Mamdani celebrated Holi at a day care center in Little Guyana on March 4; hundreds of thousands of Hindus are settled in the greater Richmond Hill area.
Holi celebrations have been institutionalized by Hindus from the Caribbean since their arrival in New York in the late 1960s. Hindus from around the globe have migrated and settled all over the US. The largest numbers are in the Greater New York, New Jersey, Orlando, and Miami areas. The Holi festival has gained prominence in NY and areas where large numbers of Hindus are settled. Parades and open park celebrations were held annually going back to 1990 initiated by Indo-Caribbean Hindus; prior to that Holi was celebrated indoors and in backyards going back to the early 1970s organized by the Mahatma Gandhi Society (Indo-Caribbean). Temples around the USA and Canada also celebrated Holi on March 3 and 4. The Queens Phagwah Parade is on March 29 in Little Guyana.
For the last couple decades, various politicians hosted celebrations of Holi, Diwali and other Hindu as well as Muslim festivals in New York City, Schenectady and New York State. These celebrations helped Hindus and non-Muslims to understand Indian culture (from India and the diaspora).
Volunteerism has been a backbone of the community in the diaspora in USA since Indians first came to USA post 1965. Several of us from since college days have shared our limited time and precious material resources to create a better life for our compatriots. While it is not practical to list all the names, individuals and organizations, on behalf of beneficiaries, the Indo-Caribbean community and others, I thank all who volunteered time, resources, and skills to improve the lives of so many in the community; non-Guyanese have also been beneficiaries of volunteerism in New York. These volunteers are a model group to be emulated. Their volunteerism is priceless. Their dedication serves as an inspiration for others. They should be honored by the community at special ceremonies. (This writer has also been volunteering time since 1977 in New York writing about activities of the diaspora and in performing a variety of free community services including tutoring, lobbying for Guyana and for services for the Indo-Caribbean, Guyanese diaspora, in NY, volunteering for preferred candidates in the annual election campaigns — primary as well as general, organizing cultural activities, seminars, and symposiums, rallying against electoral fraud, etc.).
