The presence of large numbers of Indo-Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean Hindus (and those from elsewhere like Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) in selected locations in America and Canada have made it possible for Phagwah (Holi) to be celebrated with the same traditions as brought to the West (Caribbean as in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, etc.) by indentured Indians from Mother India and from there to North America, Europe, etc. Holi or Phagwah is celebrated Tuesday in Guyana and will be celebrated on Tuesday or Wednesday in the diaspora depending on the interpretation of the scripture by the pandits or dharmacharya (head of a major Hindu organization). It is celebrated in America similarly as in Guyana or elsewhere in the Caribbean with rituals, chowtaal singing, and feasting of traditional delicacies that are served during the festival. There is no dancing in the streets on the morning of Holi as in Guyana.
As in Guyana, Holika pyre is burnt (symbolic burning of evil) on the full moon night of the month of Phalgun (usually in March); the date varies depending on the moon. Full moon in USA happens to fall on Tuesday morning March 3 with some pandits saying the holika will be burnt on that night and Holi the following morning March 4. Some pandits interpret the scripture that the full moon falls on Monday night March 2, burning holika and celebrating the festival on the 3rd. Many mandirs in NY plan to burn holika on Monday evening. Puja and celebrations are planned. In India, there is no dispute on the full moon; it falls on the night of the 3rd with the burning of holika and the holiday on the 4th.
As in Guyana, Phagwah is the most popular Hindu festival observed in New York City attracting the largest crowd of revelers with Guyanese in the thick of organizing celebrations. It is very cold (below zero Celsius) in the city now, and the parks are still covered with thick compacted snow (that form ice). The traditional annual Phagwah parades will be held on the last Sunday of the month when the temperature warms up.
Whether it is March 3rd or 4th, Guyanese in the diaspora an aura of Holi is in the air. Mandirs plan celebrations Monday or Tuesday evening. Over the last couple weekends, there was chowtaal singing at Sunday services. Some Hindus hosted chowtaal singing at their home.
Guyanese reminisce about the celebration in their former homeland. They remember it as a time for togetherness, playful jollification with abeer of a multitude of colors, visiting homes to play holi with friends, relatives, neighbors, and complete strangers and to partake in traditional foods. They recollect the rhythmic chowtall singing and loud music and the dancing in the streets. They recall the burning of the large pyre at midnight and the splashing of cold ashes on each other, mixing ash, mud and water and pouring on one another. They think back of chowtall groups making their way through the village early morning singing, beating drums and dantasls throwing water (abeer) at members of households as they make their way through the village. In the afternoon, dressed in white (Indian or western garb) with liquid abeer and talc powder, they visited homes to play with members of households. No visitor was turned away from playing phagwah at someone’s home and partaking in snacks or beverage (soft and or hard). This is quite different from the diaspora, where it is not possible to go house to house to celebrate Phagwah. Celebrations take place indoor of mandirs or the outside compound. Concerts are held. Groups engage in chowtaal singing.
In Guyana as in USA, Holi celebrations promote unity; Hindus and non-Hindus partake in the celebrations to promote harmonious ethnic relations. The abeer, snacks and beverage bring people together. Delicacies (bara, gulgula, phulourie, bigany, mango or tamarind chutney, potato ball, prasad, channa, ghoja, mahambhoog, kheer or sweet rice, among others) are served during the festival.
Holi is a joyous time of the year in Guyana. The freedom and fun of the festival in Guyana are not replicated exactly in the temperate diaspora because of the coldness during this time of the year. Many Guyanese have traveled home for the f4estival. Happy Holi!
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram