Good triumphs over evil

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar urged citizens to remember that good always triumphs over evil. In her Phagwa Message to the nation, Persad-Bissessar said, “There are various aspects of Holi, or Phagwa, which makes it significant to our lives.” She explained “it is a time when cultural and social barriers are broken down and people gather in pure merriment.”

Noting the solemn religious significance of Phagwa as it marks the destruction of evil in the embodiment of Holika and the triumph of the forces of good, the Prime Minister said Phagwa also “ reminds us that good always triumphs over evil and that we must always use the opportunities which present themselves in our lives in a positive way.”

“Today, as we play together today, enjoying the fun and friendship that is associated with Phagwa, let that sense of camaraderie extend to your daily lives, to your homes, to your schools, and to your communities,” she said.

Noting that Phagwa is also known as the Festival of Colour in which people dance to special songs known as chowtals and squirt abeer and smear gulal on each other in merriment, Persad-Bissessar urged citizens: “Be a true reflection of the beautiful colours of this festival that binds you to your heritage, your faith, your culture, your values, and your hopes for a brighter future.”