Dear Editor,
The spirit of Phagwah has traversed a great distance over the last two decades and is now being celebrated in a grand way in Central Florida, New York, Jersey City, and Toronto with great enthusiasm. It has been brought to America by Guyanese. The cosmopolitan city of Queens will have its share of the revelry of colour this weekend as will the Bronx and Jersey City. The celebration has been growing in size over the years because of the increase in the Guyanese population in the metropolitan region. So colourful and binding as a celebration is Phagwah in NY that the people can look forward to no better occasion to come together to socialize, embrace and enjoy delicious snacks which will be distributed free to celebrants. The size of the gathering sends a political message to politicians that the Guyanese community, especially in Richmond Hill, cannot be ignored as in the past.
The parade is now institutionalized in NY and is listed in the city’s calendar of activities. Everyone seems to be looking forward to the festivity in Richmond Hill, the hub of commercial activities for West Indians. They talk about it. On Thursday the city planned to celebrate Holi in the city council. On Saturday there will be a cultural mela. Stores have been doing brisk business in Phagwah related paraphernalia such as abeer, spray guns, pitchkaries, abrack, gulal, and talc powder. Heaps of coloured powder stack up on Liberty Ave. It should be another exciting parade and everyone is urged to be on their best behaviour and observe the parade rules of not ‘playing’ in the streets, but wait for the jamboree at Smokey Park, a mile from the starting point at the Cheddi Jagan Square. The police will direct traffic.
Phagwah is the most popular Guyanese festival in NY attracting the largest crowd of Guyanese outside of Guyana. Most people come with clean spotless attire and leave with their clothes completely discoloured in a bright sea of colours. At the park, the revelry is known to take on a carnival like atmosphere. It is a spectacle to behold to see so many Guyanese and other nationals at one location. And community leaders and participants are gearing up for the celebration a week after it was observed in their former homeland.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
