A four-hour `bubble session’ under the label `Phagwah Cultural Evening’ ended at the Enmore Blossom Scheme playfield. The organizer was a Hindu priest in the area and the event was underwritten by a very prominent resident.
The event was characterized by about four dances performed by children between 6 and 10 years old. These dances were far from culture and were gyrations of the top order. A DJ was specially flown in from Jamaica to blight the occasion with `I am a womanizer’ and `I gon be single forever’ and a number of chutney and wedding house tunes – truly great Phagwah hits, Jamaican style. Only three Phagwah songs dotted the entire four hours. The impressionable minds cannot but conclude that Phagwah is abut `wining up’ and getting a prize for it.
And this Hindu priest and others like him would be responsible.
I am a practising Hindu and I felt extremely insulted that a Hindu priest could be the lead person in such a degrading display of what should be an occasion for clean entertainment with a religion/cultural bias. I wonder if it is not time that a central body be set up in Guyana to sanction the conduct of Hindu priests.
Many of them, in their pursuit of economic reward, are dragging Hindus into an abyss of ignorance. Now bubble session.
Little wonder the ever growing migration of Hindus to Christianity! You would not see a Muslim or a Christian `wining up’ at their cultural events. But, under the stewardship of this Hindu priest, a Phagwah Cultural event was carnivalised into a big bubble session.
(Letter by T. Jadunauth in STABROEK NEWS)
