Lessons of resilience, fortitude in Phagwah
-- President
Guyana Chronicle
March 4, 2007
HERE is the text of the message by President Bharrat Jagdeo on the occasion of Phagwah being celebrated today:
“It is with enormous pleasure that I bring Phagwah greetings to all Guyanese, particularly our Hindu brothers and sisters.
Phagwah or Holi, the Hindu Festival of Spring, is derived from the word 'Phalgun', the name of the month commencing from mid-February through mid-March, and is the last month on the Hindu calendar. The first month of the Hindu Year is `Chaitra’, falling in Phalgun.
And so Phagwah or Holi is the start of the Hindu New Year, an opportune time for all Guyanese from all religious and ethnic backgrounds to share in the happy spirit of Phagwah, to reach out and touch, to rekindle the bliss of brotherhood and sisterhood, and thereby purge feelings of selfishness and enmity.
This festival brings to light the familiar story of Prahalad, his father the demon king Hiranyakashyapu, and his sister Holika.
We all can draw lessons of resilience and fortitude from Prahalad as he unflinchingly stayed the course with his devotion and faith. Prahalad’s ultimate triumph of good over evil brings hope to all humankind committed to a path of peace and prosperity.
Phagwah is the one event when sprinkling coloured powder ('gulal') or coloured water on each other shatters all barriers of discrimination, so that everyone seems to be the same, and so universal solidarity is reaffirmed.
Let all Guyanese celebrate this colourful festival of Phagwah in joyous spirit without any distinction of caste, creed, colour, race, status, or sex. Let us be determined to build permanent bonds of friendship and unity to bestow greater stature on Guyana.
Happy Holi to all Guyanese here and in the Diaspora!”
PNCR Phagwah message
“THE People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) expresses sincere good wishes to the Hindu community of Guyana in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the auspicious occasion of the celebration of the festival of Phagwah in Guyana.
As the celebrated Indian National Kulapati Vani wrote many years ago, “festivals are gatherings for refreshing the spirit and enjoying life”. We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion to refresh their spirit and enjoy life, and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.
We are conscious, also, that our spirits are becoming increasingly sullen and sour in the brooding darkness that now engulfs our land. Violent crime, pervasive joblessness, creeping despotism, and deepening poverty, stalk our land; partisanship, discrimination and executive lawlessness compound bad governance; our economy and society are in tatters and our nation can only see dark clouds on the horizon.
We are heartened, however, by the true meaning of this festival which has not only a secular significance of fertility, rebirth, renewal and regeneration, but an important religious moral. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil, manifested in the destruction by PHAHALADA of his demonic father KING HIRHNYAKASHIPU.
Several demons are now abroad in our embattled land, and as we urge the Guyanese people to appreciate the spiritual significance in this festival, we also urge them to brace themselves against the many evils that are in our midst and resolve, at this juncture, to take steps to end these calamities that now bedevil our country.
AGAIN HAPPY HOLI TO ALL GUYANESE.”
PPP Phagwah message
“THE People’s Progressive Party (PPP) extends best wishes to Guyanese in general and the Hindu community in particular on the festive occasion of Phagwah.
Phagwah is one of the most popular festivals in our country and has added to the rich cultural diversity of Guyana.
Its message of the victory of good over evil is one of hope for all those struggling to overcome obstacles towards social, economic and political progress.
As we celebrate Phagwah this year, let us rejoice in our significant achievements as a country.
Let us also rededicate ourselves to uprooting the evils of crime and corruption and other evils that still persist.
We have no doubt that our work for peace, progress and prosperity will triumph and our people will have a better future.”
`A time to share’
-- Reepu Daman Persaud
PRESIDENT of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud, in his Phagwah message, said the festival is “truly a time to share in the true spirit of Sewa and wherever there is hate replace it with love and take all steps necessary to reconcile differences and construct a united society.”
“Holi transcends all barriers. There is complete equality. The Rang or colours which smear us and make us virtually unidentifiable, removing every distinction even between Kings and subjects, emphasise the oneness of humanity or the famous Hindu perception Vasudeva Kutumbakam – Humanity is one family”, he said.
Mr. Persaud noted that an air of joy pervades the home and the family at this time with children touching the feet of their parents, spraying them with perfume and placing Abrak and powder on their faces and squirting on their clothing Abeer or coloured liquid.
“Parents bless their children and wish them not only Holika Shubh Kaamnanyea, but a bright and prosperous future. Greetings are extended to relatives and friends squirting abeer and powdering them.”
Persaud stressed that Holi does not license anyone to recklessly and wantonly drench passers-by or to barge into people’s homes and splash water on the occupants.
“These acts are against the spirit of our lovely Holi festival and should not from part of the Phagwah celebration.
Celebrate and do so happily but do remember the significance of the festival which sends a clear signal of respect for human rights so bravely fought for and won by Prahalad.”
GAWU message
“IT’S the annual semi-religious event again. Hindus primarily join with nature to welcome spring after the relative gloom of the previous winter.
The colours, the splendour and liveliness of spring induce devotees to disregard status and social norms as they employ water, abeer and coloured powers to celebrate life.
The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) joins with the Hindu community as it involves all Guyana to observe and celebrate the festival of Holi – commonly called Phagwah here.
GAWU wishes to celebrate the festival’s hope and optimism whilst regarding the religious mythologies surrounding the historic event.
Mankind in all societies need hope to sustain life amidst the challenges of conflict, crime, disease, natural disaster and poverty. Holi offers this hope on the often-present horizon.
The Phagwah legend tells of Prahalad believing in the eternal God, Vishnu, much to the displeasure of his father an evil king. The father and king challenged Prahalad the son to sit on a blazing fire alongside the wicked Aunt Holika.
She was burnt as Prahalad survived. GAWU hopes that Guyana survives the fire and heat of political and economic challenges and sabotage.
GAWU sees the glorious, inclusive festival of Holi ushering in the reality of a `new’ enhanced city of some standards.
This season of Phagwah also offers a threshold for new economic activities in construction, hospitality and tourism-related employment and the hope of oil exploration, among other exciting events.
The Holi month of course, is the month of Cricket World Cup 2007 – with all the possibilities which the world’s third largest sporting event offer.
Many of GAWU’s membership are participants in the annual festival. The union wishes them and all Guyana a joyous Phagwah free from conflict and anything negative.”
Remember the poor
-- C.N. Sharma
LEADER C.N. Sharma and executive member of the Justice for all Party has joined in extending joyous Holi greetings to the entire nation.
At this time when Hindus celebrate their New Year, he said people should herald the event with remembering the poor and the unfortunate.
According to Mr. Sharma, the triumph of good over evil in the saga of Prahalad over his father King Hiranyakashipu proves that God is watching over us.
He said the entire nation must unite at this time when good triumphs over evil and help to eradicate the problems faced by the nation.