The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha said Holi is a time to share in the spirit of sewa, to replace hate with love and to take steps to reconcile differences in order to construct a unified society.
It noted that Holi or Phagwah is celebrated at the end of the Hindu calendar year. The festival coincides with the harvest of the spring crop and is called Basant Ritu or Spring festival. It said, “Holi commemorates the regeneration of nature from her slumber.”
In Satyug or the Golden Age the grains from the crops were first offered as homage in the sacred fire, this was known as Navaneshti Yagya, while Holi, the original name for the festival is derived from the word hola which means grains. Phagwah, the release said, comes from the word Phalgun, the last Hindu month. Holi heralds the Hindu new year which is celebrated 15 days after Phagwah on the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month Chait.
The release said Holi transcends all barriers and there is complete equality. The rang or colours is used as a physical cover of the body to erase distinctions between king and subjects and to emphasises humanity’s oneness of vasudeva kutumbakam. At the same time the release said the season does not license anyone to “recklessly and wantonly drench passers-by or to barge into people’s homes and splash water on the occupants.” These acts are against the spirit of the festival and do not form a part of Phagwah celebrations.
The sabha urged devotes to celebrate happily and to remember the significance of the festival which embodies respect for human rights.
