Guyana is a melting pot of six ethnic groups- Amerindians, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Portuguese, and Chinese. From those ethnic groups, according to Guyana Demographics profile , 39.8% are East Indian. 29.3% are African, 19.9% are mixed race, 10.5% are Amerindians, 0.5 % are Portuguese, Chinese, European, or other. From those six, East Indian and and Africans, Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Guyanese, are the major ethnic groups. Both Indo-Guyanese and Afro- Guyanese descent came about during the Dutch colonial time period. Slaves from Africa and indentured servants from India were brought to Guyana to work on the sugarcane plantations. Since then, these ethnic groups have influences Guyana's culture, especially Indians.
Dawali
As stated before, Indo-Guyanese makes up 39.8% of the population. Because Indians are the major ethnic group, the Indian religion, Hindu, is one of the major religions in Guyana. Hindu makes up 24.8% of the population. One can Hinduism in Guyana's culture through its food like curry, roti, and dhal bhat (dhal and rice) and festivals. For instance, Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of the Hindu month of Kartik. On this day, they worship one of the Goddess, Maha Lashmi, to receive her blessings for material and spiritual fulfillment. It is supposed to be the darkest night of the month so they light up candles in rows. Also, the meaning Diwali means a row of lights which fits appropriate with the celebration. It could be celebrated amongst the Guyanese people, Hindi or non-hindu. Another celebration that could be celebrated amongst the Guyanese people is Phagwah or Holi. It is celebrated on the 5th day of the bright half of the Hindu month OMaghO and it honors the Devi, Saraswati. Phagwah celebrates the arrival of Spring where one collects ashes of variety of colors and throws it around.
Guyana is such an amazing place with many ethnicities that make up the country as a whole that it will continue to expand its culture with many generations to come.
Sources:
“Culinary Traditions.” Guyana Tourism, 29 May 2020, guyanatourism.com/exploreguyana/cultureandheritage/culinarytraditions/.
“Diwali (Festival of Lights).” Explore Guyana, exploreguyana.org/event/diwali-festival-of-lights/.
“Festival & Events.” Guyana Tourism, 29 May 2020, guyanatourism.com/exploreguyana/cultureandheritage/festivalsandevents/.
Foster, Marissa. “Appreciation of the Indo-Guyanese Culture.” Guyana Chronicle, 8 July 2020, guyanachronicle.com/2020/05/03/appreciation-of-the-indo-guyanese-culture/.
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