Phagwah celebrations on this weekend in N.Y.

TIMES INT'L

By North American Correspondent 

While Guyana and the rest of the world will be celebrating Phagwah on Thursday, the celebration will be at its peak this weekend in the New York metro area and Florida among the large Guyanese population settled in these two states.

The Phagwah celebrations have been growing in size over the years because of the large numbers of Guyanese who are settled in selected communities where the festival is observed. In Queens alone, for example, it is estimated that there are some three hundred thousand U.S.-based Guyanese who organise various religious and cultural celebrations.

Because Holi falls on a weekday this year, and the fact that it is not a public holiday in the U.S., celebrants will observe the festival at their respective mandirs and then hold a public celebration this weekend.

New Yorkers look forward to Phagwah celebrations to come together to socialize and have a merry time. The Phagwah Festival Committee is hosting Holi Sammelan this Saturday which will be followed by the Phagwah Parade on Sunday, both in Richmond Hill. Parades are also planned for the Bronx (Grand Concourse) and Jersey City for Saturday and Sunday respectively and in Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday.

The organisers for the Sammellan say over 50 Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), including Mandirs are participating in the festivities.

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