The celebrants included special invitees President Bharrat Jagdeo and members of his Cabinet, all dressed in the traditional outfits of kurtas or saris.

The joyous occasion was marked by the traditional exchanges of coloured powders, abeer, dousing of each other with water, the singing of Phagwah songs, dances and traditional Phagwah music including nagara drumming.

In a comment to the Chronicle, Mr. Gupta who is spending his first Phagwah in Guyana said: "It's like homecoming. It is lovely. It is beautiful." Having served in the diplomatic service for over 25 years in many countries including China, Spain, Egypt, UAE, Philippines and Mozambique before coming here, the High Commissioner said he never had the opportunity to celebrate Phagwah abroad as those countries where he served do not celebrate the Hindu religious festival.

Gupta said he heard about the celebrations here, but remarked he is delighted to be seeing it himself and more importantly being part of it, adding that Phagwah here is very similar to the way it is observed in India.

Of special note to him, the High Commissioner who hails from Delhi, Himachal Pradesh said is that not only Hindus celebrate Phagwah here "it is celebrated by everybody" which he said reflects great national unity.

He added that yesterday morning he was surprised when he received Phagwah greetings from a Muslim associate here.

Meanwhile, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Reepu Daman Persaud who is the President of the largest local Hindu organization, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, is urging Hindus to keep the celebrations "clean, pure and dignified."

In this regard, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha launched a booklet this year as part of its educational campaign about the significance of Phagwah.

The booklet gives a brief history of the origin and evolution of the festival and its religious and cultural significance, outlining the manner in which it is observed and celebrated. It also deals with the origin and development of Phagwah as a national festival here.