The festival of Phagwa (Holi)


Hello All,

Today I bring to you some insights into the religious festival of Phagwa; it was a very fun time growing up and still is lots of fun up to today.  I hope you all get a chance to experience it at least once, its more than a festival but living art...

Former Prime Minister: Kamla Persad-Bissessar, plays Phagwa. 

Phagwa or Holi was celebrated last Sunday 4th March here in Trinidad.  It’s a festival of colors, songs, music, dance and performance and lots of fun; it’s a joyous festival which celebrates the beginning of the Hindu new year.  The festival came with the indentured labors back in 1845, when immigrants were brought to work the sugar cane fields – it’s a religious celebration which signifies the triumph of good over evil, as is the case with most religious stories.  It is normally celebrated on the first or second Sunday of March.

Though Phagwa is celebrated in many countries, the Trinidad experience is quite unique.  Various locations across the country, such as temples, holy places, schools and recreation parks are used for the festivities.  Groups from temples and schools performs on stage then proceed to another location where they will do the same.  Judging takes place for the best performances, this includes the various styles of singing the traditional songs as well as dancing.  And of course the main feature of the festival is where colored powder and dye (Abeer) is sprayed upon your friends. 

Somewhat like the Carnival J’ouvert celebration, instead of mud and oil, Abeer and powder is used in a celebration of color.  As you can imagine lots of children takes part in this celebration but the adults also have lots of fun.  Some ingenious fellows even create Abeer pumps to spray this colors all over the crowds.  Traditional sweet Indian foods are provided for a wholesome day of fun for the entire family.  

If you like Doubles, Pholories, Sahina and all the other Indian delicacies; it’s a whole different experience trying to eat such foods while trying to avoid someone spraying abeer on you or not having your face doused in powder.  I must say as an adult I am thankful that when I was a child abeer and the powder were nontoxic – because the amount of each I consumed with my food, I would have surely landed me in the emergency room many times.

Phagwa at Felicity grounds. Source Trinidad Guardian

Though to really enjoy the full essence of the celebration, one joins a group several weeks before and practices his singing and dancing; then on the day of the activities, he comes dressed in white and goes from location to location.  Here not only the joy of performing comes into play but meeting new friends and lots of persons to spread his colors.  As you can imagine for a kid this is more than simply a celebration but some sort of a battle to see who can spray the most abeer on the other.  




                                         Phagwa at Felicity grounds. Source Trinidad Guardian


Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 26, 2018 at 3:53 AM

    I love Holi, seeing everyone painted in mesmerizing hues of blues, yellows, magentas, greens, violets, and more..Fun times....nice read

    ReplyDelete
  2. SarahMarch 26, 2018 at 6:12 AM

    The magnificent colors of holi just brightens the place and listening to the traditional music.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SarahMarch 26, 2018 at 6:17 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. ShayApril 11, 2018 at 7:20 AM

    I would love to experience this festival

    ReplyDelete
  5. KikiApril 28, 2018 at 6:00 PM

    I've never experienced Holi..it looks like fun..that's something I need to try at least once. Lovely to see our first female Prime Minister. The photos really bring your description of the festival alive.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownMay 2, 2018 at 8:20 PM

    "Holi khele raghuveera avadh mein Holi khele raghuveera" this is one of my favorite songs for the festival of Holi it really gets you pumped and into the festivities...I remember as a young child I used to love playing with the abeer and powder and there was nothing waking up the next morning with your entire body stained in purple almost black colors lol and still having to go to school like normal this brought back childhood memories like this post

    ReplyDelete

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