‘Proud’ Batavians kick off heritage month celebrations
DPI, GUYANA, Monday, September 4, 2017
The start of indigenous month was officially launched in the lower Mazaruni sub region with Batavia’s Heritage Day celebrations on Sunday, September 03.
Batavia Culture Group.
Residents from Bartica and surrounding communities converged at Batavia’s Arian Island located in the lower Cuyuni River, Region Seven to celebrate with the Batavia community.
Toshao Eyon Boyal highlighted that Bataiva is a leader in heritage celebrations with its first ever Heritage Day dating back to the early 90s. “Batavia has always maintained a rich cultural environment,” Boyal said as he launched the day’s festivities.
Boyal charged the indigenous people to preserve their heritage beyond the celebration of Heritage Month. “Continue to be the proud indigenous persons you are and let us continue to empower ourselves,” he said.
Also making briefs remarks was Regional Chairman of Region Seven, Gordon Bradford, who encouraged indigenous residents to work together for the development of their communities.
“Don’t ask yourself what Batavia can do for you but ask yourself what you can do to further the development of Batavia and each and every Amerindian community, so that our children and the future generations would be assured of a better life in the future,” Bradford said.
Heavy wind and rains delayed the start of the heritage celebration but did not stop the flow of visitors to the island, who
Stalls offering indigenous craft and food at the heritage celebration.
indulged in the various indigenous food, like tuma pot and various wild meats, as well as piwari and fly, as they waited out the bad the weather.
When the skies cleared in the afternoon, patrons participated in piwari drinking and tocuma worm eating contests. The highlight of the heritage celebration was the Batavia junior heritage pageant.
Seven young ladies vied for the junior heritage pageant crown. The contestants displayed their cultural dress and talent while their various platforms tackled serious social issues affecting their community like the school dropout rate and preserving their culture.
The pageant was interspersed with cultural dances from the Batavia Culture Group. As dusk fell on Arian Island, young Novita Pawelae was crowned Junior Ms Batavia as patrons continued to celebrate into the evening.
By: Tiffny Rhodius
Capturing the moment. The crowd gathered around the stage during the races and pageant.
Piwari drinking race.
Junior Ms. Batavia Novita Pawelae.
A stick dancer entertaining the crowd.
The pageant contestants.
A man taking coconuts to one of the stalls.
Waiting out the rain.
Toshao of Batavia Eyon Boyal.
Persons arriving on Arian Island, Batavia.