A family at Lamaha Street, Georgetown sprinkling powder as they celebrate Phagwah.

These people were caught in the hype of Phagwah celebrations yesterday along the East Coast Demarara.
Hindus across Guyana yesterday celebrated Phagwah the festival which marks the triumph of good over evil. One of the centres of activities for the celebrations was the Hindu Dharmic Sabha at Prashad Nagar, Georgetown where hundreds gathered yesterday afternoon for the culmination of the event.

President of the Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud said the celebration should be seen as an opportunity for people from all walks of life to come together. Young people were pre-dominant on the lawns of the Institution, he noted.

Persaud said the celebration creates an atmosphere not only for relaxation, but to remove tension from among the people of Guyana and create a feeling of togetherness.

He said that once such feelings are predominant among the mixture of peoples who were present at the celebrations, it shows there is great hope for the country.

“We should work tirelessly in order to achieve that. Hindus are committed unequivocally to such efforts”, he said. Persaud noted that Phagwah celebration has no barriers. It is accommodating also to persons who may have other religious persuasions, he said.

He pointed out that the observance of Holi was being conducted in this manner for over 25 years and people’s participation has been growing tremendously since then.

President Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds were among prominent government officials who participated in the celebration.