Agony and ecstasy of Pichakaree

THE EDITOR: Having endured and survived the agonies resulting from the hitherto unjust marginalisation and neglect by successive administrations of Pichakaree (Holi Festival) I never was able, in spite of my wildest dreams and most optimistic expectations to foresee that I would, thank God, one day eventually experience the ecstasy, gay abandon and colourful pageantry of the Holi Festival. It is as if I can now invoke the biblical intonation about letting thy servant depart in peace having been to the max.

I was overawed and overwhelmed, as never before, by the press images of our own President, HE George Maxwell Richards dismantling the Wall of The Presidential Enclave and unshackling the chains of protocol to identify with his subjects and bond with his people of Tunapuna. Those pictures showing His Excellency being showered with abeer from the Pichakaree at the Tunapuna Hindu School and spontaneously frolicking with his children in gay, unrestricted abandon were worth a thousand tales. They told of Max the man being driven by his missionary zeal and clear determination to unite TT by going where no other President has ever gone before this Excellency. I am now more than ever convinced that there is a compelling method underlining and driving His Excellency’s innovative and ground-breaking modus operandi but what some will still persist in calling protocolary madness.

The Presidential initiative to descend from the traditional detachment was complemented and reinforced by the lyrical excellence, the creative and ingenious social commentary and sheer magnetism of the infectious musical rhythms of the Pichakaree Song Competition held at Divali Nagar. This cultural innovation has suddenly blossomed into the TT multi cultural stage thanks to the perseverance of Gita Singh and bhai Ravi-ji. In my view, all the contestants deserved first place having regard to the quality and brilliance of their renditions, the lyrical sweetness and strong focussed messages. I could not believe that the small Kendra Group of Longdenville could have served as a catalyst to generate such a monumentally enticing event that is way out of proportion to its size. Thanks to Mohip Poonwassie, Mukesh Babooram and other sisters and brothers and most importantly to His Excellency who dissipated the agony of Pichakaree past and ushered in the ecstasy of Holi 2004.

STEPHEN KANGAL
Caroni