Holi / Pagwah !

PRESIDENT David Granger last evening joined members of the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangha for a Chowtal session on the lawns of State House.

President David Granger tries his hand at playing the dholak (the two-headed drum) during the Chowtal session last night at State House Chowtal is a genre of folk music which originated from the Bhojpuri Region of Northern India and has been preserved for over 178 years in Guyana.
In brief remarks after a spirited round of Chowtal singing, President Granger said the festivities associated with the festival of Holi are an expression of a culture that is part of the Guyanese experience, which started to flourish here after the country gained Independence.

President David Granger partakes in the refreshments with the youths after they indulged in some early Phagwah play, powdering each other with abrak (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of the Presidency) Speaking about the high level of religious tolerance that exists in Guyana, the President said it is important for all citizens to appreciate each other’s faiths and roots so as to better appreciate themselves.
“We are not entitled to be exclusively hateful of other religions. We must be tolerant, because other religions may have truths which we ourselves may not be able to discover…
“All of our religions teach compassion; and when we lose that compassion, when we lose that love for fellow Man and woman, we take a dangerous road…. We see what is happening in countries where there is hatred,” President Granger said.