The Dave Thakoordeen’s annual tenth edition of the chowtaal Sameelan was held at Prem Bhakti Mandir, 172 Street off Jamaica Ave., on Sunday afternoon March 17.
Chowtaal, a Bhojpuri folk singing festival, was brought to the Caribbean in the West by indentured laborers or girmityas from 1838 to 1917. It is popular in north India.
From the Caribbean, chowtaal was transported to and transplanted in North America by Indian Caribbean immigrants from the 1960s onwards. Chowtaal has been institutionalized in USA and Canada by more than million Indo Caribbean immigrants.
The host of the chowtaal program is the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha USA Praant. Thakoorden has been the main sponsor of its many activities throughout the year. This year, GHDS celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The chowtaal event featured groups from several New York based Mandirs with roots in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad.
