Phagwa, or Holi, is upon us—and in Trinidad, we witness community spaces pulsing with colour, coming alive with chowtaal rhythms and the glow of Holika Dahan piercing the night. Celebrated this year between March 13 to 17, this Hindu festival heralds the triumph of good over evil, devotion over arrogance, and spring’s renewal over winter’s lull.
Beyond splashes of abeer, Phagwa weaves a rich tapestry of scripture, music, and tradition—deeply rooted in India yet vibrantly reimagined by Trinidad’s Hindu diaspora.
Scriptural Origins of Phagwa
The heart of Phagwa beats in ancient texts like the Vishnu Puran (1.17) and Bhagavat Puran (7.8), where the tale of Prahlad, Holika, and Lord Vishnu unfolds. Prahlad, an unshakable devotee of Vishnu, defied his father, King Hiranyakashipu, who demanded worship as a god.
Enraged, the king turned to his sister, Holika, who possessed a mystical scarf that promised immunity from fire. She lured Prahlad onto a blazing pyre, certain the flames would spare her and claim him. But as the fire roared, Prahlad’s faith turned the tables—the scarf fluttered from Holika’s shoulders to his, shielding him as she perished in the inferno.
This victory of righteousness over wickedness lives on in Holika Dahan, the ritual bonfire lit on Phagwa’s eve. In Trinidad, it’s a story that resonates with a community bound to its ancestral past.
Holika Dahan in Trinidad
Holika Dahan shines a light on the Indo-Trinidadian spirit, forged by the descendants of indentured labourers who arrived between 1845 and 1917. In villages like Felicity, Dow Village, and Pasea, families gather under starlit skies to build pyres and Holika effigies. As the wood crackles and flames leap, chants rise—each spark is a testament to evil’s defeat and devotion’s triumph.
Reminiscing on the indentureship period, one can picture the scene in communities across Trinidad: children clutch sticks of sugarcane, elders recite soulful chants, and the air hums with anticipation as the effigy ignites. This isn’t just a ritual—it’s a living link to ancestral roots, adapted with Trinidadian resilience.
On Thursday, you witnessed this yourself at the Lakshmi Narayan Bhakti Mandali in Tunapuna, where Holika Dahan began at 7 pm—a night of fire and faith open to all.
Chowtaal Singing: The Rhythmic Heartbeat of Phagwa
Phagwa in Trinidad is incomplete without chowtaal, the four-beat folk songs that set the festival’s tempo. Born in India’s Bhojpuri-speaking regions, this call-and-response tradition thrives here, uniting voices young and old. In the weeks before Phagwa, chowtaal groups gather in temples and community centres—rehearsing lyrics that honour the divine forms of Krishna, Radha, Shiva, and other deities while welcoming spring’s embrace.
The sound is unmistakable: the dholak’s deep thump, jhaal cymbals clashing, and kartals chiming in sync. Lately, tassa drumming—a Trinidadian twist—has joined the mix, adding a fiercer edge to the beat. You might have hear da group’s rendition of ‘Holi Khele Raghuveera,’ voices soaring as the rhythm pulls everyone in. It’s more than music—it’s heritage pulsing through schools and mandirs, ensuring the young know their roots. At Tunapuna’s Holika Dahan, chowtaal echoed through the night’s air—many joined in and felt the rhythm.
The Celebration of Colour and Joy
Phagwa day dawns with laughter and colour. Across temple grounds and open spaces, friends and strangers alike throw coloured powders and spray abeer with homemade pichkaris—PVC water guns wielded with gleeful precision. Children dart through crowds, dousing elders who respond with handfuls of coloured powder. Caste, age, and status blur in this vibrant melee, uniting all in love and togetherness.
This play echoes Krishna and Radha’s mischief, immortalised in Bhakti texts. Krishna, the divine prankster, smears Radha and the Gopis with colour, his laughter weaving bonds of joy. In Trinidad, that spirit lives on—each splash is a nod to divine delight.
Phagwa’s Cultural Significance in Trinidad
Brought by indentured labourers in the 19th century, Phagwa has metamorphosed into a Trinidadian celebration of identity and resilience. It transcends religion, drawing Hindus and non-Hindus into its embrace. From Holika Dahan’s solemn flames to chowtaal’s lively renditions, it’s a pillar of Indo-Trinidadian heritage, a bridge between cane-field struggles and today’s vibrant present.
Faith, Fun, Freedom
Phagwa is faith, fun, and freedom fused into one. Rooted in scripture, lifted by song, and sustained by rituals, it’s Trinidad’s heartbeat of joy—a legacy that thrives in every pyre, every note, every burst of colour. Whether you’re watching Holika burn, singing chowtaal, or dodging abeer, remember you are part of a centuries-old tradition of devotion and unity. Let Phagwa paint your world with wonder.