THE Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) extends Phagwah (Holi) greetings to all the citizens of Guyana, especially those belonging to the Indo-Guyanese communities and more so to those who are guided by the philosophical teaching of Sanatan Dharma.

Phagwah or Holi is a festival of Bharat (India) that has roots in antiquity and celebrates the coming of a new spring season and the dawning of a new year. The exuberance of this festival reflects the collective hope of the people for progress and prosperity and the concomitant betterment of their lives.

Even though the cultural landscape in Bharat had changed from time to time from the introduction of the Negroids followed by the proto-Australoids, Dravidians, Mongoloids, Caucasians, Persians, Greeks, Shakas, Kushanas, Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mghans, Mughals and Europeans, the festival of Holi emerged, survived and flourish in Bharat the world’s first melting pot.

Holi was brought to British Guiana by Hindus who arrived here as indentured labourers to work on the sugar plantation 167 years ago and was sustained by the majority of the approximately 239,000 Bharatiyas who arrived on these shores between 1838 and 1917.

Phagwah was transplanted from a large sub-continent characterised by four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter; to Guyana a small South American land of dry and rainy seasons and even though global warming is creating climate havoc, the symbolism of Holi must not be lost.

IAC, therefore, calls upon all the citizens of this multi-cultural land of Guyana to regard the great festival of Phagwah or Holi, which celebrates life and hope regardless of demography or geography always as a focus for national unity.