Covent Garden

Colouring rice for the Rangoli

Covent Garden on the East Bank Demerara is a laid back community with an average population of 300. A far cry from its British namesake with its well-known fruit and vegetable market, the local village has small gardens in the various yards where residents grow flowering and non-flowering plants and a few vegetables here and there.

When the World Beyond Georgetown visited, some villagers were preoccupied with preparing for the Diwali celebrations. Some were cooking and the aroma of the traditional seven curries permeated the air, others were preparing sweetmeats, making Rangolis or just relaxing; children played in the not-so-busy streets. Some neighbours had gathered for a chit chat