The pioneers of the Phagwah Parade in Richmond Hill, New York were honoured during a Phagwah mela last Sunday at the Fairfield Pavilion
The mela which was hosted by Guyanese-born Indra Seet, founder of the Geeta Mandir and Cultural Center Inc, and Star International Band, recognized the commitment and dedication of the following persons: Pandit Ramlall Ji, who promotes the Hindu religion in and out of the community; Ramesh Kalicharran – founder of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin, as well as the Prem Bhakti Satsangh Mandir; Dr. Satish Prakash – teacher, writer and lecturer who founded the Acharya of Maharshi Dayananda Gurukula, a cultural and educational center in Jamaica, Queens; Bhoj Dindiyal, who came to the U.S. in 1968 and was the president of the Arya Spiritual Center when the Phagwah parade started, and Kishore Seunarine.
Seet told Guyana Times International that she felt it appropriate to show appreciation to the “five guys who started the first Phagwah parade over 31 years ago.”
This is the first time she has hosted the event, which she says will be an annual feature at this time of the year in Richmond Hill. Next year, she plans to publicly recognise the efforts of community leaders who would have positively impacted the lives of residents within the community.
She said: “We would honour them so they could continue to promote our culture and be there for our youths, because our youths need to know what our leaders did in the past…and we need to let them (the youths) know what they have done, so they could continue where they [honourees] left off.”
The mela saw the participation of more than 200 persons, who enjoyed traditional West Indian dishes, free of cost while they enjoyed the cultural program which featured the Aman Tassa Group, Natraj Dance School, Dharmic Sabha of New Jersey, Bawanee Maa and performances by both the adults and youths of the Star International Band. Seet, who was instrumental in training the participants from the band, is passionate about the youths’ development, both socially and culturally.
According to Seet, this event will bring awareness in their communities, because they have so many youths and events like this bring them together and let them know what their culture is all about and help to promote it.
Among the patrons were Council members Reuben Wills and Mike Miller and District leaders Albert Baldeo along with Guyanese Dr. Taj Rajkumar.
Phagwah, known as Holi around the world, is the Hindu festival of colours and joy which dictates that the bright colours of Holi overshadow the discrimination of caste and creed in society and signify the spirit of joy, passion and enthusiasm.
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