By Michael Morton
At the start of the annual Phagwah Parade in Richmond Hill Sunday afternoon, event organizers faced scheduling problems, bad weather and a police crackdown on the custom of throwing colored talcum powder because of terrorism concerns.But while the hindrances initially seemed to dampen the enthusiasm of onlookers at the Caribbean festival with South Asian roots, by the time the parade route concluded at an area park, thousands upon thousands of participants celebrated with unbridled glee. “This is how we welcome the spring,” Vedo Basit, secretary of the Phagwah Parade Committee, said as the throngs, estimated at 25,000, gathered at the park at 94th Avenue and 125th Street.Phagwah, or Holi, is based on a Hindu religious observance and the spring planting festival and was altered in the South American coastal country of Guyana by Indian laborers who arrived under British colonial rule. When Guyanese immigrants came to Queens, they brought the festival with them, and it has expanded to include Indians who have immigrated to the area from Caribbean nations.The festival, which has been held in Richmond Hill for 16 years, usually takes place in March to mark the Hindu religious observance, but this year the holiday, which serves as a day of atonement and unity, fell on the same weekend as Easter. Organizers said they moved the parade part of the holiday to accommodate the police officers needed for the event.”We don't want both done on the same day,” said Latchman Budhai, a member of the area's Community Board 9 and the treasurer of the 102nd Precinct's Community Council.Another concern going into the parade was the use of colored talcum powder and colored water during the celebration. The holiday recognizes an ancient prince who was thrown in the fire because he would not worship his demon king father, but then was saved by his protector, the Hindu god Vishnu. The colored powder and water, which are thrown at friends and family, represent the flames of the fire, the triumph of good over evil and the flowers of spring. But since Sept. 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax scares, police have been concerned the powder could be a cover for a biological attack. While authorities and community leaders sought restrictions last year, they were largely ignored and the event went off safely.As the dozen or so floats lined up for this year's parade at Liberty Avenue with intermittent rain and 40-degree temperatures, officers confiscated bags of powder and made participants dump out Super Soakers filled with colored water. They said the materials would unofficially be allowed later in the park, but their actions on Liberty Avenue took many by surprise.”I've been doing this 16 years,” one man protested to officers. Another woman with an empty watergun said, “I don't want to talk about it.”Along Liberty Avenue, the level of enthusiasm appeared low.”It has made it less fun,” said Prakash Persaud, assistant principal of Richmond Hill High School. “The restrictions do suppress the exuberance.”But as the floats turned off the main commercial strip on Liberty Avenue, officers seemed to lose interest and running street battles developed as friends and family tried to smear each other with the pink, orange, yellow and purple powders. Those on the floats swayed to the beats of chutney music, a Caribbean derivative with South Asian origins.At Smokey Oval Park, the end of the route, festival-goers gathered to watch dancing and hear drumming, the crowd less than the 50,000 from years past but still an estimated 25,000 strong. A white talcum powder dust from shaken containers enveloped the air.Pandit Chunell, a parade marshal, said he was proud so many young people had shown up to carry on the cultural tradition. And he said he still enjoyed the day's celebration.”I always do,” he said.Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
