Phagwa
A lighthearted celebration of the arrival of spring, the Hindu Holi festival - known in Trinidad as Phagwa (pronounced "pag-wah") - is held in March. Upbeat and carnivalesque, Phagwa celebrations are massive outdoor parties that represent a symbolic triumph of light over darkness. The festivities include the singing of devotional folk songs called chowtals , but the main focus is an intense fuchsia-pink dye known as abir , which is squirted from plastic bottles over participants wearing white. Games add to the fun; adults participate in makhan chor , where teams form a human pyramid in order to grab a suspended flag, while children compete in roti eating contests. Chaguanas hosts one of the largest celebrations in Trinidad, in an open space off Longdenville Old Road. There are other gatherings at Aranguez Savannah in San Juan and at Couva, but none is widely publicized - contact TIDCO for the exact dates (tel 868/623-6022).
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