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There
are other musical forms
in this music-crazed
nation.
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Phagwa
celebrates the Hindu New
Year in India, heralding
the arrival of spring an
the triumph life over
death.
• This
festival, also called
Holi, like Trinidad's
Carnival, it is a
communal, joyous event in
which participants
release inhibitions,
throw bright liquid or
purple colored powder on
each other with a spirit
that's both naughty and
merry at the same time.
• Phagwa
is celebrated on the
first day of the full
moon in the month of
Phagun (February to early
March).
• The
festivities reenact of
the legend of Holi
(Holika) where Prince
Prahalad refused to
worship King Hrinia, his
powerful father as a god.
King Hrinia ordered
another daughter Holika,
also a witch, to
sacrifice Prince Prahalad
by fire.
• Unfortunately,
the fire consumed Holika
but not the Prince.
• Witnesses
to this miracle exalted
the Prince then took
Holika's ashes and
scattered them on each
other.
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• At
ceremonies in various parts of
Trinidad, stately King Hrinia,
Prince Prahalad and Holika
appear, all dressed in intricate
gold-plated attire. After the
final fire, the ashes, smbolised
by bright purple-red abeer (dye),
is squirted everywhere.
• There is drumming and
East Indian vocal styles like
chowtal, earthy, spirited spring
songs in Hindi - accompanied by
East Indian musical instruments.
• Recently chutney a
localised English, Hindi style of
music is replacing the
traditional chowtal, there are
competitions for locally composed
"pichakaree" songs in
English and Hindi.
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Phagwa
is a happy, joyous even, all are
welcome to join in the fun
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