The Hindu festival of Phagwa or Holi was brought to Trinidad by the first contingent of Indian indentured labourers in 1845. They were brought from India aboard the SS Fatel Razack as replacement labour for the recently freed slaves.
Whereas the slave masters denied the unfortunate labourers brought from Africa their right to practise their traditional religion and beliefs, the Indian immigrant labourers continued many of the religious and cultural observances which they brought from India. It is only later that attempts were made to Christianise and "civilise the savages" from India.One of the methods used was to offer a small measure of western-type education which carried with it an inbuilt religious conversion element. Conversion to Christianity was the price paid by our ancestors for even elementary education.
Another strategy used to discourage any type of national organisation was in the establishment of the "Pass law." This meant that indentured labourers could not travel and make connection with their Indian counterparts in other areas without the authorisation of the plantation owners.The effect was to delay any type of Indian/Hindu unity nationally, but it did provide our ancestors with the opportunity to insulate themselves from any western-type influence and to rigorously practise their poojas, their Phagwas and other such festivities at the village level.
If today, we as Hindus, thousands of miles away from the Hindu homeland in India, are able to continue these celebrations and transmit their messages to our children, we must express our gratitude to those who went before us.
Outside of India, Phagwa is observed by the minority Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan, as well as countries with large Indian subcontinent diaspora populations such as Suriname, Guyana, T&T, South Africa, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Mauritius and Fiji. The Phagwa rituals and customs outside south Asia also vary with local adaptations.
Phagwa celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night before Phagwa where people gather, sing and dance. The next morning is a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water; with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight.
Anyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw colours on each other; laugh and chit-chat, and then share Phagwa delicacies, food and drinks. Some drinks are intoxicating, to which we object.
Phagwa is celebrated at the approach of vernal equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon). The festival date varies every year, according to the Hindu calendar, but usually comes in February/March in the Gregorian calendar. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many, a day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair ruptured relationships.
Washable natural plant-derived colours such as turmeric, neem, dhak, kumkum are used and everyone in open areas is game. Inside homes or at doorways though,
only dry powder is used to smear each other's face. By late morning, everyone looks like a canvas of colours. This is why Phagwa is given the name Festival of Colours.
In T&T, Phagwa is being celebrated in 2015 over a period of two weeks in February/March. The celebrations begin at the level of the Hindu schools where children compete against each other in the Chowtal Sammelan. This is really a prelude to the general Phagwa, and this year it took place February 28, with 48 schools participating in competition at the Lakshmi College Auditorium in St Augustine.
The next event in the year's festival took place yesterday at various venues across Trinidad. This event is known as the Burning of Holika. Days before, devotees and participants start gathering wood and other combustible materials for a bonfire that will herald the destruction of evil and the establishment of righteous conduct.
Devotees use the ashes from the bonfire to smear their bodies and it is only after this simple ritual that the coloured liquid known as abeer is sprinkled on each other. This ritual of the bonfire also symbolises the victory of good over evil. In Trinidad people throw colours on each other using ordinary plastic bottles or specially made spraying implements and engage in a glorious water fight. By evening, the area would have been converted into a canvas of colours.
The Maha Sabha has set aside a special day for Children's Phagwa. We use the discipline of the school and the assistance of teachers and parents to guide our children into acceptable behaviour patterns.Children's Phagwa has now become a special feature and this year it falls on Saturday.Venue of this feature will be the Baal Maidan (Children's Playground) at the Tunapuna Hindu School playground and park, Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Tunapuna.
