Indo-Caribbean Hindu Americans are gearing up for the Holi or Phagwah celebration on Monday, March 25 at home, schools, public spaces, and Mandirs. Traditional celebrations as in Guyana, Trinidad, and Suriname are planned at several mandirs. Several Mandirs held chowtaal singing on weekly Sunday morning services. Sone Mandirs burnt Holika Dahan Sunday afternoon.
Pre-Phagwah celebrations and concerts were held in various mandirs and auditoriums in New York, New Jersey, and Florida by large Indo-Caribbean Hindu communities. Politicians also hosted Phagwah concerts and festivities; the public was invited and community leaders participated in those held in New York City. The Consulate of India also held a Holi observance in Queens at which several Indo-Caribbean community leaders were guests.
Unlike in Guyana, Holi is not a holiday in New York or anywhere in the USA although students and staff at New York City government schools are allowed an excused absence. The public in several localities in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and elsewhere are familiar with the festival and some were known to partake, especially at college campuses and the Phagwah parades held in Queens, Bronx, and Jersey City and the jamboree in Orlando and Ft Lauderdale. Businesses were known to give time off for the Hindu festival. Many Hindus planned to take the day off from work to prepare special dishes for their family that go with the festival and have invited non-Hindus for the celebration in their homes.
Parking is not suspended as it is for Diwali and several other festivals. Being a workday in America, celebrations are planned for Monday evening with folk (chowtaal) singing accompanied by music and daubing (rubbing) vibrant colors on each other. Fast-tempo dancing is also a must with the music. Every mandir in the USA plans to host celebrations on Monday evening. Some mandirs planned celebrations on Sunday after service because members of the community may not be able to attend Monday evening celebrations. Mandirs were expected to be packed to capacity as on Shivratri celebrations held just over two weeks ago. Makeshift Holika are prepared for a bonfire
For the last few weeks, since ‘Holika Dahan’ was planted some six weeks ago, mandirs held chowtaal singing during Sunday morning service as they prepared for the big day on March 25. Last Sunday afternoon, March 17, Prem Bhakti mandir in Jamaica, Queens, played host to the tenth annual Chowtaal singing by groups from several countries that entertained the congregation for over four hours. It was organized by the Guyana Dharmic Sabha Praant of the USA. It is a group that obtains its name with the Guyana Dharmic Sabha. Bhai Dave Thakoordeen sponsored the event. Celebrations were also planned at New York City Hall and at Queens Boro Hall and at several government offices. Elected representatives already hosted festivals or will hold one this coming week. Elected representatives, hunting for votes in elections for this year, found themselves at or will be at celebrations if they themselves didn’t host one. There were singing, dancing, and colors in mandirs. Lessons or lectures were also delivered on the meaning and relevance behind Holi. Youngsters are taught about the festival. Schools in Richmond Hill plan encourage staff to hold lessons about the festival as they also do for Ramadan, Eid, and Diwali. Phagwah celebrations were planned on lawns and courtyards of schools.
Every Hindu festival has its own unique music, rituals, and food specialties and West Indian stores were fully stocked with the appropriate items to prepare the special vegetarian dishes. The symbolic Holika was scheduled to be burnt on the evening of Sunday March 24 at several mandirs to be followed by the Holi celebrations. Several mandirs planned services abd chowtaal singing.
Guyanese, Trini, Surinamese, and Jamaican Hindu New Yorkers have prepared for the festival acquiring appropriate food items that go with this unique festival and related paraphernalia (gulal, abeer, talc powder, pitchkari, etc.). West Indian stores were packed with shoppers last weekend and during the last few days. With last Saturday being washed out with heavy torrential downpours, last minute shoppers were expected on Sunday. Private caterers have orders for dhal puri, delicacies, and an assortment of dishes. Devotees volunteered to prepare dishes to be served at the mandirs; several mandirs planned to prepare their own dishes.
Because of busy police schedule this month and the very cold weather, the annual Phagwah parade will be held in mid-April.
