Georgetown: The People’s National Congress Reform expresses Holi Greetings to the Hindu Community in Guyana in particular, and Guyanese in general, on the auspicious occasion of the celebration of the Festival of Phagwah in Guyana.
The significance of Phagwah is two-fold. The religious significance of Holi lies in the conquest of good over evil, manifested by the destruction by Phahalada of his demonic father, King Hiranyckashipu. Its secular significance lies in the advent of the season of spring, and its real and allegorical implications of fertility, rebirth, renewal and regeneration.
The Guyanese people have recently witnessed National and Regional Elections and had hoped, like other countries in the world, that the spring of a resurgence of human rights, justice, national unity, and natural reconciliation, would have returned to Guyana. They were emboldened by the Arab Spring, and other developments in the countries that engendered a rebirth of freedoms and a new dawn.
Alas, the situation in Guyana is not so. The new Government, although they possess executive authority, lacks the parliamentary power in the National Assembly now enjoyed by the combined opposition. The Guyanese people had expected that, in these circumstances, the results of the last General and Regional Elections provided a golden opportunity for all parties to sit down and craft plans, policies and programmes to benefit all Guyanese.
The Guyanese Spring is yet to come and the Guyanese people are still hoping that, in the coming months, the executive and combined opposition would meet to create a new polity and a new economy to benefit all Guyanese.
As the celebrated Indian National Kulapati Vani wrote many years ago, “festivals are gathering for refreshing spirit and enjoying life.” We urge all Guyanese to use this occasion of Phagwah to refresh their spirit and enjoy life, and to participate fully in this colourful festival and enjoy the rich elements of our religious and cultural diversity.
Happy Holi to all Guyanese!
