Phagwa on this weekend

In TT the celebration takes place at several venues with cultural programmes.

Villages come together to enjoy chowtal (folk songs) as well as the throwing of abeer on each other.

This ritual which was brought here by the indentured labourers has become popular and attracts a wide cross section of people.

Today, Phagwa celebrations will be held at SWAHA Tulsi Manas Mandir of Coalmine Road, Sangre Grande.

The programme begins at 6 pm and will feature chowtal singing, dances and drama.

There will be a dramatic enactment of the Prahlad story and also a lecture by Swaha’s Pundit Balram Persad.

Tomorrow, celebrations will continue throughout TT and the Maha Sabha will host events at Knowles Street Recreation Ground, Tarouba Recreation Ground, Lower Mc Bean Temple Grounds, Munroe Road Temple Grounds, Parvatie Girls Hindu College, Debe, Solidad Recreation Ground, Claxton Bay, Avidesh Samaroo Park Endeavour Village, Couva Recreation Ground and Monkey Town Temple Grounds, Barrackpore.

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Co-operation (MGICC), which is the cultural wing of the High Commission of India, will also celebrate Phagwa tomorrow from 10 am to 2 pm.

The Shiva Jyoti Hindu Organisation of St Helena will also host its annual event at the temple grounds Ojah Maharaj Avenue, Las Lomas tomorrow from 1 pm to 6 pm, at Skinner Park, San Fernando.

The Phagwa festival is based on the teaching of the ancient character named Bhakta Prahlad.

He was a prince who was subjected to torture by his father, the wicked king Hiranyakasipu.

Prahlad who did devotion to Lord Vishnu was saved from being destroyed by his father.

In the early days of indentureship, this festival was observed very modestly because of the many constraints that the Hindus faced.

Today it is celebrated on a national scale and with grand style