The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha says Holika Dahan will take place today countrywide, as it starts activities to celebrate Phagwah 2012.
The Sabha is hosting a Satsangh at the Shri Krishna Mandir in Campbellville at 7pm and devotees will participate in a hawan ceremony with the chanting of vedic mantras and the singing of Holi songs and chowtaal. The chowtaal Gole will lead the procession to the Camptown ground in Campbellville for the burning of Holika at 8.15pm, the Dharmic Sabha said in a press release.
President of the Sabha, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, was quoted as saying that this component of the Holi festival is significant and it will be conducted in the true spirit of a Navaneshti Yaag. “This ceremony dates back to the vedic era when the Kissans or farmers after harvesting their crops offer grains to Agni devata,” the Dharmic Sabha explained, adding that this spiritual exercise existed long before Prahalad’s intervention. At the Camptown ground appropriate puja will be conducted, the Holika kindled and members of the chowtaal goles will do Parikrama or circumambulation as the fire ascends. “It is an eventful exercise with profound spiritual overtones,” the release added.
At the Rama Krishna Mandir, the annual Satsangh will be held at 8am on Phagwah morning. The Dharmic Sabha has also planned grand celebrations on its lawns at the Sanskritik Kendra at 3pm. Persaud said that he personally and the Sabha for more than 25 years have conducted a campaign for those who join in the celebration to do so in a healthy and dignified manner and as such he expects participants to be dressed appropriately. “Celebrate with abheer, abrack, powder and perfume. No impure substances should be thrown on anyone,” the release said, adding that no alcoholic beverages are allowed at any of the activities.
