By Vishnu Bisram
As in Guyana, Holi or Phagwah is being celebrated in New York City among the large Guyanese community. Several groups host Chowtaal singing at their mandirs. Chowtaal is very popular around this time of the year when the spring festival of Holi is observed. Usually, from the time of Holika Dahan or the planting of Holika, it continues for 40 days leading up the Phagwah (Holi) Day.
Last Sunday, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha(USA Praant) hosted the 3rd annual Chowtaal Samelan at the Prem Bhakti Mandir in Jamaica, Queens as part of phagwah celebrations. The program was emceed by Anil Bedasie and Deepa Seetaram who did a splendid job.
The large congregation rapturously listened to some 16 groups from various Guyanese mandirs and cultural organizations in the New York area with each singing several chowtaals. Each group had a minimum of ten participants. Every member of the Chowtaal group sang and beat jhals (cymbals) while some beat the drum (dholak) and the dantaal. The groups assembled in two rows of singers facing each other (semi-circle), with a “dholak” drummer at one end, singing lines of Hindi text antiphonally.
Some groups comprised of mostly young devotees such as the Sanataan Dharma Mandir of NY, the KalKa Roshni Youth group and the Queens Hindu Mandir Youth group with its 11 year old female dholak player.
The congregation became part of the singing groups echoing the lyrics or verses. Many could be seen clapping and dancing or gyrating with the music.
Chowtaal was brought to the Caribbean by indentured laborers from the North India regions of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Much of the lyrics of the chowtaals involve loud repetitions of chants about life and or on the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. It was transmitted to and institutionalized in the USA and Canada by Indo-Caribbbean immigrants. In Guyana, years ago chowtaal was sung by village or temple groups with members going from home to home and village to village.
The objective of the USA Praant is to continue this tradition by hosting the gols from the mandirs in the Tri-State area.
The USA Praant’s chairman Dave Thakoordeen, a cultural advocate, has been supporting Indian cultural activities around New York and in Guyana. Thakoordeen said the idea behind the samelan is to promote the art form and to celebrate the Indian culture.
The samelan also recognizes the work of the pioneers in introducing Indian cultural and musical art forms in the US. Thakordeen said he wants the youth to know and appreciate their culture. Chowtaal takes a lot of verses from the scriptures. So by learning and knowing chowtaal, they learn the scripture indirectly, Dave said.
