(To the layman, the Hindu festival of ‘Holi’ or ‘Phagwah’ as most Guyanese know it, is primarily about dousing each other with oodles of water dyed with just about every colour under the sun and having a jolly good time finishing each other off with generous helpings of powder.

Not so, says Chronicle staffer, Priya Nauth, who dug deep into the religious books to bring us a blow by blow account of how it all came about and what the holiday signifies.)

IT’S called ‘Holi’, short for Holika, we’re told, and signifies “the triumph of good over evil.” Legend has it that it all goes back to a demon king named Hiranyakashyipu who once ruled over Earth and thought so highly of himself that he decreed that all his subjects should worship only him and him alone.

Much to his annoyance, however, everyone complied with this edict of his except his son, Prahalad, who was an ardent devotee of Bhagwan (Lord) Vishnu.

Determined to show the little upstart who was boss, Hiranyakashyipu made several attempts on Prahalad’s life but was thwarted at every turn by Lord Vishnu.

In frustration, he turned to his sister, Holika, in the hope that she’d be able to help him vanquish his son by luring the unsuspecting lad to certain death.

For Hiranyakashyipu knew something about Holika that few people did: The girl was like asbestos, in that she had this special gift whereby she could endure the hottest of fires without ever coming to harm. What neither of them knew, however, was that the magic only worked when she was alone.

And so, in her ignorance, Holika agreed to do as her brother asked and deceived young Prahalad to sit with her in a blazing fire.

Of course, Lord Vishnu would have none of that so Holika paid for her treachery with her life. Prahalad, on the other hand, came out of the fire unscathed because of his undying faith in Lord Vishnu whose name he called upon even in his darkest hour.

Thus, some say, did the festival of ‘Holi’ come by its name, though there’s another school of thought which says that the word was derived from Hola, which in Hindi means “to offer oblation.”

Planting of Holika
Whatever its origins, ‘Holi’ also marks the advent of spring and is the foremost popular and celebrated festival observed by Hindus the world over.

Known also as ‘The Festival of Colours’, perhaps because of its association with spring (sometimes called the vernal season or Vasant Ritu), the festivities are said to begin with the planting of the Holika (also called Basant Panchmi) on the fifth day of the bright half of the month of Maagh. According to the teachings of Hindi, the month of Maagh is the 11th month of the Hindu calendar, which begins on January 21 and ends on February 19.

The planting of the Holika involves the sowing of a small castor oil tree 40 days before ‘Holi’ and the offering of special prayers and pujas to the eight Vasus (attendant deities who each represent various aspects of nature), seeking the forgiveness of Mother Earth for one’s transgressions and God’s rich blessings for the safety of one’s crops and the preservation of all trees.

Burning of the Holika
The burning of the Holika, called Holika Dahan in Hindi, takes place on the eve of ‘Holi’, which is the evening before the full moon (Phalgun Purnima), when a huge pyre is erected and set alight.

Pujas and prayers are also performed and grains offered in oblation, while drums and cymbals pay musical homage to the season in Chowtaal as oodles of corn and dried coconuts crackle merrily in the fire.

The burning of the Holika is an extremely popular tradition, and is the part of the festivity that is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. It’s also seen as an auspicious and happy occasion, and it is for this reason that persons seize the opportunity during the ritual to seek forgiveness and to make resolutions.

The morning after the burning of the Holika is traditionally called ‘Basant Utsav’, a time when special prayers are offered and the ash, which has by now been cooled, is placed on the forehead after which the pinnacle of the season explodes into the besmearing, soaking and splashing of each other with different colours (abeer) of powders and water.

Preparing for Phagwah
Days or even weeks before this festival, the town is usually abuzz with activity as the markets and stores are flooded with colours of every hue aptly setting the mood of the people.

Housewives are usually busy at this time, cleaning their homes from ‘top to bottom’ and making the necessary preparations for the traditional delicacies and activities.

Persons will buy and store tons of abeer in various colours, powder and perfumes.

The traditional morning for most Guyanese begins the festival by using water and then as the day goes by, the colours start to flow in abundance.

A popular sight in the villages over the years is of youngsters filling their trucks or ‘Canters’ with barrels of water which they use to soak whoever happens to cross their path as they roam the streets looking for easy prey. Another memorable sight is of the horse-drawn cart going around the city as persons engage themselves in the full spirit of Holi celebrations.

In the country areas, the youngsters engage in throwing each other into the trenches which is not advisable as it can be a bit dangerous, or roaming the entire village to get a chance at soaking everyone.

Some Hindus will participate in the early morning Satsangh (service) at mandirs, and whatever the choice of colour, nobody, whether young or old, remains in their original texture at the end of the play of this festive celebration.

It is especially a great time for children who take joy in throwing water and colours on each and every one, and engage fully in all the fun and mayhem of this colourful season.

Another delightful treat is the delicious delicacies that are prepared in abundance.

Housewives will usually be busy in their kitchens from the wee hours of the morning preparing the feast.

Some popular mouth-watering delicacies brought by our ancestors from different regions of India are gulab jamoon, jalabi, barfi, para, gulgula, jolabi and kheer.

On this auspicious day, Hindus will fast and offer prayers, while families and friends take time to visit each other and spread the joy of this colourful festive season.

Another tradition associated with this festival in Guyana is the singing of Chowtaal music, and in the villages, Chowtaal groups will walk through the area singing and visiting homes on Holi morning.

A popular event on Phagwah here is the Annual Phagwah celebration hosted by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha at the Kendra, in Prashad Nagar where numerous persons of all ethnicities and religions gather to take part in songs, dance and the array of colours.

At the end of the play, no one would be recognizable.

This festival is observed in high spirits without any distinction of race, creed, caste, status, sex or religion and is a time when all barriers of discrimination are broken and the values of amity are revived.

This Phagwah, may the colours within us emanate and the fragrance of the season spread among our people.
This Phagwah, may the colours within us emanate and the fragrance of the season spread among our people’