Phagwa or Holi

Source: TriniScene (2000)


The Hindus, who came from India, in 1845, as indentured labourers on the sugarcane fields, brought with them Phagwa. In T&T, this festival of colours is celebrated with songs, music and dances in a grand style throughout Trinidad. A variety of colourful dye, called abeer, is mixed and sprayed and smearing powder on all those who participate in the celebrations. A special type of folk song, called Chowtal, is sung during the course of the festival and the accompanying music is usually played using only two instruments: The Dholak, a hand drum, and the Majeera, cymbals or percussion instrument.

This colorful festival is still celebrated throughout Trinidad in villages and communities where Chowtal Groups perform in song and dance. The Aranguez Savannah is a popular venue for this celebration of birth and renewal.

Phagwa or Holi as it is also called, is a joyous celebration that marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated in the later part of the month of Phalgun and the early part of Chaitra, in the Hindu calendar. This corresponds to the English months of March-April and coincides with the onset of spring in India, where the festival has been celebrated for thousands of years.

The annual festival occurs after the full moon in the month of March or April, and has a high level of spiritual significance. Traditionally, Holi was known as an agricultural festival and Hindus believe in the tradition of a harvest as they reap good deeds after a year of sacrifice and repentance.

Phagwa calls for the removal of the ego and is a period of purifi­cation. It is a time of ­rejoice, merrymaking and the atmosphere is filled with joy, especially as it signifies the triumph of good over evil.