GAWU’s 2009 Phagwah Message

It’s that time of year again for Guyana’s and the world’s Hindus.

The joyous festival of Holi is upon us as Hindus celebrate the dawning of Spring, the triumph of the good and righteous over the schemes of the greedy, the conflict-makers and those given to various forms of evil.

Happy Holi from the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) to all Hindus and to the numerous friends who join them in this now national public observance. GAWU, whose membership includes thousands of active Hindu believers, will not dwell on the well-known mythological groundings of this Hindu religious festival. Rather, this year the union enjoins Hindus to reflect upon the solid symbolism of Holi, the hope of a Season of productive fulfillment from the Earth, the beauty of Nature and its colours and of a clean environment for all-round spiritual and practical development.

As Guyana faces the challenges of climate change, natural geographic attacks on our ability to plant and feed ourselves, GAWU, the representative of those who produce sugar, rice, sea-foods and other products, call upon Hindus to show others how to protect and preserve the natural resources nature has given to Guyana. But we must all join the authorities in battling the more destructive forces of Nature too – the heavy rains, the floods and the plight they bring.

So let the joy of the abeer, powder, the dances, chowtals and other Holi music be a celebration informed by some sober realties. Even as GAWU understands the joyous nature of Phagwah.

Happy Holi 2009 to all Hindus; to all Guyana!!