The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s annual Phagwah Mela and Bazaar will be held at a new venue this year and for the first time the event will feature an Indian Folk Dance festival.
Organisers, in a release, said the event will be held at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara on Saturday.
According to the release, the folk dance festival will be done in the form of a competition that will see several groups from as far as Essequibo and Berbice competing for cash prizes and trophies. The first prize will be $50,000 plus a trophy, second $40,000 plus trophy, third 30,000 plus trophy. Other participating groups will also receive cash awards.
In addition to the folk dance competition, the Sabha’s own Dharmic Nritya Sangh will present dances in their unique style. Backed by the popular Caribbean Hostshots band, singers Rekha Singh, Sookrane Bookdhoo, Mona, Suchitra Rampersaud, Chevalia Rampersaud and others will add to what promises to be a truly entertaining evening.
The release revealed that the grounds of the conference centre will be transformed and patrons will be allowed to move freely from the beautifully decorated stage area to the bazaar featuring numerous food stalls offering a variety of sumptuous dishes and sweets, mehndi booths, games for all as well as great shopping deals on everything from Indian clothes and jewellery to phones from Digicel.
Strictly no alcohol will be allowed. Tickets cost $500 with children under 10 being given free admission. Paid parking will be available within the compound of the Conference Centre. Patrons can also choose to park outside.
The event is being supported by the Guyana Bank of Trade & Industry (GBTI) Precision Packaging, Digicel, NCN, NTN, Survival Supermarket, Rent-a-Tent, Shaline’s Flower Shop, Geddes Grant, Beharry Groups of Companies and Pepsi. Patrons will be treated to a variety of folk dances as dancers, bedecked in elaborate and colourful costumes, compete for the top spots.
Tickets are available at Red Mango, Robb Street and the Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra or persons can call 227-6181.
