Youman Nabi, Phagwah
on Kate in Guyana (Guyana), 02/Mar/2010 14:46, 34 days ago
Festivals rolling in thick and fast at the moment. Friday/Saturday was Muslim celebration for the birth (and death) of the prophet. Went to a music event which was mainly chanting Kasidas, which are songs from the Koran. I suppose a bit like Psalms. These were mainly done by young men about 14 to 20 say. Amazing strong voices and self assurance to stand up on stage and sing/chant. There was also a visiting performer from Trinidad who had two musicians playing harmonium and small hand drums. He was improvising more and responding back and forth with the musicians. The whole event was quite serious, with well dressed people.Phagwah is the Hindu festival of spring, also new year, which was yesterday. It is about celebration, music and dancing, covering people with colour and happiness. We went to the Indian Cultural Centre. You wear old clothes because you get bright coloured paint powder marked on your face, amidst happy greetings. The kids squirt you with water pistols full of dye. There was music (same instruments) and brightly dressed dancers in various styles. The message is that when the colours wash off that feeling of happiness should remaim.The two festivals contrast by being from exact opposite ends - one completely from thought and prayer, the other from the feeling of elation and fun. But both are clearly deeply felt by the participants as a spiritual experience. Fascinating.Wish they had better PA systems though because it can be a bit painful on the ears when people sing too loudly into microphones. Apparaently there is sometimes trouble with people chucking water around in the streets - particularly if it is filthy water from the trenches...Back to work today, trying to get this SEN Course approval sorted this week.Cheers