Pan Sensations & Divali
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It’s a great idea from the Tourism Development Company and Pantrinbago that will feature four weekends of pan hosted by various pan yards across the country. But the idea of having pan music outside of carnival is by no means original. People have been protesting for years that pan all but vanishes after Ash Wednesday. It’s interesting to note that in Trinidad and Tobago where the steel pan is the national instrument, it’s near impossible to find steel pan events year round. And so hopefully this is the end of lip service and the beginning of a more visible instrument throughout the year.
This Pan Yard Sensations concert series entertain folks for almost the entire month of September and will take pan music to all areas of the country and somehow, they even managed to remember Tobago.
It will also incorporate guest performances from (I’m guessing here) soca and calypso artists that will add a dash of pepper sauce to the concert, just in case the pan becomes too monotonous. Great idea!
Said Angela Fox Media/Communications liaison of Pantrinbago Incorporated,
“Pan Yard Sensations was born out of a need to not only showcase steel pan music, but to also showcase it within the context of its birthplace - the pan yard. The rustic charm of the pan yard is unique and is an integral part of this instrument’s history, and by extension, our people’s history. The pan yard is a place of innovation and creation and we want people to experience that as well.”
It’s amazing how a little vision could go a long way. We have the talent; we have the ability to put on a great show; we have thousands of steel pans. Why shelve it every Ash Wednesday when pan men and everyone else involved could be showcasing their talent and earning a dollar at the same time?
A little vision will also help Divali to go a long way. Picture this: Trinidad is about 40% Indian - give or take - with Hindus making up a large portion of that. We have talent coming out of our ears as I’ve said before (or was it noses), and there is no diminishing in interest in Indian traditions from what I can tell. As a matter of fact, the interest in Indian traditions is surging forward.
India’s population is well over a billion and the Diaspora stretches forth deep into the United States and Canada with Trinidad quite likely having the densest concentration of Indians in the Western Hemisphere except maybe for Guyana. With all the factors, why haven’t we yet made Trinidad the Western-Hemisphere Mecca for all things Indian? And in particularly Indian celebrations?
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| A Scene from Ramleela |
Our Divali celebrations are huge and quite possibly larger than anything experienced in the US or Canada. Preceding Divali, we have a number of good Ramleela productions that are put on in communities across Trinidad. Indians who live in North America simply cannot go home to India for Divali every year and far less for Ramleela. Travel costs and the time will surely make frequent visits near impossible. But on the bright side: less than one day’s flight from any North American destination and voila! What do you know? It’s little India.
I’m convinced that Divali and Ramleela can become a huge tourism booster in Trinidad in the latter half of the year. Think about it for a second. In terms of talent, geographical location, and resources we can have the Western Hemisphere market cornered - hands down. Let’s face it, Guyana would not be able to compete. This is ours for the taking. And what does it take?
A large Divali celebration can see a huge influx of Indian-American visitors who want a taste of the old country at a fraction of the time and cost. Of course it’s not limited to North Americans alone, but also Indians living in the other Caribbean Islands and even in South America (don’t tell me there aren’t any). Pretty soon, it won’t be just Indians. And what will it take besides a little initiative.
Of course, we won’t be ready to put on something of this magnitude without some serious groundwork, but undeniably, we have all the raw materials.
When the tourists do begin to come, they won’t just be sampling Indian culture, but the entire culture of Trinidad. Think what this could mean for, cooks, massmen, pan men, craftsmen and everything outside of the regular indo-Trinidadian fare. And of course everyone from the hotelier to the regular taxi driver will benefit.
But it has to be built first. If you build it they will come. If you build it and kick some serious marketing butt, they will come in droves.
This is diversification; not putting smelters on agricultural lands. The benefits will be greater (and longer lasting) than hosting the Cricket World Cup and it’s definitely better than hosting a Miss Universe competition.
But that’s just my take. You all can disagree with me if you like.
4 Responses to “Pan Sensations & Divali”
By Hottie Hottie on Sep 8, 2006 | Reply
I was waiting to see what the response to this post would have been like. Not surprisingly, we remain true to form and avoided this one like a vagrant with a rotting foot on the Promenade. I agree with you Manicou, but, unfortunately, the majority of us Trinbagonians see appreciation for the culture of another race as a betrayal of our own, unless it is American culture, that is. I love experiencing other cultures and I believe that long ago we had better exposure to aspects of our diversity. They taught about our festivals and beliefs at school and celebrated each event. That seems to have changed. Now, we’re all scrambling to achieve a cultural monotony of greed. To ass with Hosay, Divali, the Santa Rosa festival. Let’s celebrate the purchase of new cars, us having the latest styles shown on MTV and, let’s not forget the underachieving thug, the Luger in the pants waist.
By Mani on Sep 8, 2006 | Reply
Thank you Hottie, exactly! Yeah I did notice no one touched this. The thing is I view Divali and Hosay as being my own also and I would love to see some money poured into it so that it can acheive the status it deserves.
I think it can be great.
By Hottie Hottie on Sep 8, 2006 | Reply
So do I. I light deyas, attend prayers, fast, put on meh khurta and dance like my name is Baby Susan (remember her). I also participate in Emacipation celebrations and am patiently waiting for an avenue into the Chinese culture to take part. The thing is, when I do these things I’ve had people ask me why I don’t stick to my thing. Look at me! I mix with almost everything; what exactly is my thing? And even if I wasn’t mixed, I’m a Trinbagonian first and foremost. There is no such thing as ‘your thing’ and ‘my thing’. It’s ‘all ah we thing’.
By Mani on Sep 8, 2006 | Reply
Well Amen to that. Gyul, I have to be an honarary Indian, with all the stuff I’ve done and been to in the past.