In Guyana, there are three major religions; Christianity, Islamic, and Hinduism. Guyana is very respectful of the other religions, going as far as to have religion holidays been official “national” religious holidays. This means schools will be out for the holidays as well as government buildings. Within schools, pupils learn and experience other religions through these holidays.
Phagwah or Holi is a Hindu holiday that celebrates good over evil, arrival of spring, and the blossoming of love. The holiday is also called the “festival of spring”, the “festival of colours” or the “festival of love”. The holiday has no strict date but occurs around March aligning with the full moon of the lunar cycle. My village is an Amerindian village that is mostly Christian so they do not participate in Holi (though the kids do get the opportunity to throw color right at the end of school if they bring it). Since my village does not celebrate, I went into town to meet up with the other Peace Corps Volunteers to spend the holiday with.
For Holi, the night before is usually a fasting day. The next morning (Holi), you attend Mandir (service). After you have the option of going home to change into a white shirt. Once Mandir is over, or even before, you go out with friends and family to wonder the town visiting friends and family houses. While going around, you are given color as a liquid poured on you or as a powder that you rub on their faces. When you rub on their faces you are suppose to wish them a happy Holi and bestow hugs to one another. When you go visit the houses, you are offered foods made by the family or drinks.
Overall the Holiday was super fun. A lot of color (that DOES NOT come out of your skin/hair) and tons of friends. It is very much a holiday of gathering to celebrate with friends and family the color of life.