Phagwa in Trinidad: A Festival of Colour, Faith, and Unity.

 Phagwa in Trinidad: Colour, Faith, and Unity.

Phagwa, or Holi, is upon us—and in Trinidad, from 13^th March, 2025, community spaces will pulse with colour, resonate with Chowtaal rhythms, and glow with Holika Dahan piercing the night.

This Hindu festival heralds the triumph of good over evil, devotion over arrogance, and spring’s renewal over winter’s lull. Yet, Phagwa is more than a burst of abeer and song—it’s a sacred prelude to the Hindu New Year, occurring 15 days before the start of the Hindu NewYear, ensuring peace and prosperity for the year ahead.

Rooted in India and vibrantly reimagined by Trinidad’s Hindu diaspora, Phagwa weaves scripture, music, and tradition into a celebration of faith and unity.

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’s Narasimha Avatar unfolds. Prahlad, an unshakable devotee, defied his father, King Hiranyakashipu, who demanded worship as a god. 

Enraged, the king enlisted his sister Holika, armed with a mystical scarf promising immunity from fire. She lured Prahlad onto a pyre, but his faith in Vishnu turned the flames against her—the scarf shielded Prahlad as Holika perished. This victory of righteousness lives on in Holika Dahan, the ritual bonfire lit on Phagwa’s eve.

The Vishnu Dharmottara Puran adds cosmic depth, stating:
Pujitah Syuh Shubhapradaḥ -  "Those worshipped planets grant auspiciousness."

This verse underscores Phagwa’s role in invoking planetary blessings for the year ahead, a practice Trinidad’s celebrations echo through fire and offerings.

Holika Dahan in Trinidad.

Holika Dahan shines a light on the Indo-Trinidadian spirit, forged by 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 flames leap, chants rise—each spark a testament to evil’s defeat and devotion’s triumph. Children clutch sugarcane sticks, elders recite soulful verses, and the air hums with anticipation as the effigy ignites—a living link to ancestral roots, adapted with Trinidadian resilience.

The Grahalaghava Tika connects this ritual to the Hindu New Year:
Holikopaayah Saṃvatsaraphalah ; Chaitraarambhah Pancadashadinapurvam - "Holika’s rituals yield the year’s fruits; Chaitra begins 15 days prior."

In 2025, this timing aligns perfectly—Phagwa on March 13 precedes the New Year on March 29. 

On Thursday, March 13, at 7 pm, the Lakshmi Narayan Bhakti Mandali in Tunapuna hosts Holika Dahan—a night of fire and faith open to all. Here, devotees may offer items to the fire, aligning with Vedic traditions to ensure the Nau Grahas (nine planets) bless the coming year.

Chowtaal Singing: The Rhythmic Heartbeat of Phagwa.

Phagwa in Trinidad thrives on Chowtaal, the four-beat folk songs born in India’s Bhojpuri regions. This call-and-response tradition unites voices, honouring Krishna, Radha, Shiva, and spring’s embrace. In the weeks before Phagwa, groups rehearse in temples and community centres, their dholak thumps, jhaal cymbals, and kartals blending with the fiercer edge of Trinidadian Tassa drumming. 

Songs like ‘Holi Khele Raghuveera’ soar, pulling everyone into the rhythm. More than music, it is heritage pulsing through schools and mandirs, ensuring the young carry their roots forward. At Tunapuna’s Holika Dahan, Chowtaal will fill the night—join in and feel its heartbeat.

The Celebration of Colour and Planetary Offerings.

Phagwa day dawns with laughter and colour. Across temple grounds, friends and strangers throw powders and spray abeer with homemade pichkaris—PVC water guns wielded with glee. Children douse elders, who retaliate with handfuls of colour, blurring caste, age, and status in a vibrant melee. This play echoes Krishna and Radha’s mischief, immortalized in Bhakti texts, each splash a nod to divine delight.

Yet, Phagwa’s fire holds a deeper secret. Vedic tradition, as outlined earlier, prescribes offerings to the Nau Grahas during Holika Dahan to secure their benevolence for the year. In Trinidad, while not universally practiced, this aligns with the bonfire’s sanctity. Devotees may wrap items in coloured cloth—orange for Surya (Sun) with jaggery or wheat, white for Chandra (Moon) with rice or milk, red for Mangal (Mars) with lentils, and so forth—offering them to the flames or donating them. 

These acts, rooted in shastra, ensure peace and prosperity, blending seamlessly with Trinidad’s festive spirit.

Phagwa’s Cultural Significance in Trinidad.

Brought by indentured labourers in the 19th century, Phagwa has evolved 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. The planetary offerings, though less emphasized locally, deepen its role as a cosmic reset, aligning with the Hindu New Year’s promise of renewal.

Conclusion.

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 thriving in every pyre, note, and burst of colour. Whether you’re watching Holika burn, singing Chowtaal, or dodging abeer, you are part of a tradition that ensures a harmonious year ahead.

Mark your calendar: Thursday, March 13, at 7 pm, Lakshmi Narayan Bhakti Mandali (Tunapuna Hindu School compound). Come for Holika Dahan, stay for Chowtaal—and let Phagwa paint your world with wonder.