SCORES of Guyanese of mainly Hindu origins living and working or holidaying in sunny Barbados converged on the Caribbean island’s two lone temples last weekend so as to celebrate in customary Guyanese fashion the Hindu festival of Phagwah.
Word out of Barbados is that they had a jolly good time, just as their compadres did here, wetting each other down with whatever came to their hand whether abeer or water, and ladling them with heaps of richly hued powders as is the customary practice among Hindus the world over at this time of year.

Also on hand to join in the festivities at both venues was Guyana’s honorary consul to Barbados, Mr. Norman Faria, who did so on behalf of the Guyana government.

At the Hindu temple in Welches, located just outside the capital Bridgetown in the parish of St Michael, Pandit Thakoor Prashad was hard at work as usual just to ensure that everything went well as planned at the wonderful and happy gathering on Sunday, following a night of prayers and singing on Friday. As was only to be expected, the event was accompanied by dancing and the preparation of sumptuous traditional Guyanese dishes.
A similar function was held in the spacious backyard of Guyanese-Barbadian, Mr. Vishwanauth Singh, managing director of the Barbados-based firm, Superior Lumber and Building Supplies, who lives in Maxwell, in the parish of Christ Church. That event, according to a release from the Guyana consulate, was officiated by Pandit Purushotan Tiwari.

The majority of the attendees at the two functions were Guyanese nationals who are either resident in the island or on work permits.