Arrival of MV Travancore to be re-enacted June 1

The historic arrival of the MV Travancore to St. Vincent with 260 Indian workers and children aboard will be re-enacted as part of celebrations to mark the 150th year of Indian Arrival Day.{{more}}

This event will take place on June 1, 2011, at the Indian Bay beach. During a press launch at the Helping Hands Centre on Tuesday, May 17, 2011, President of the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation Dr. Junior Bacchus stated that the event, along with other activities, will celebrate the Indian heritage in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The other activities, Dr. Bacchus mentioned, are a friendly cricket match on Sunday, May 22, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, a Banquet and honoring of outstanding persons who have contributed to the nation, as well as the development of the Indian community in SVG. This will take place on Sunday, May 29, 2011. Also taking place on June 1 is a National Cultural Rally featuring Indian Music, songs, dancing, drumming, foods and other exhibits at Heritage Square.

On the afternoon of June 1, there will also be a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of an Indian Music Museum at Argyle.

Dr. Bacchus, who was also recently appointed as Public Relations Officer of the Union of Indian Culture to represent the Caribbean and the Americas, said that the Indian culture exists at different levels within the region. Speaking specifically to St. Vincent, Bacchus said that there is very little that we know about Indian dress, music and religion when compared to other Caribbean countries such as Trinidad, Suriname or Guyana.

Also speaking on the events, another member of the SVG Indian Heritage Foundation Junior Bacchus (not Dr. Bacchus) stated that the banquet event will see persons from the past and present being honoured for their contributions to the development of SVG. He, however, refrained from disclosing names of the honorees, stating that it is meant to be a surprise.

He also explained that the events are not open only to Indians but to all Vincentians. The Indian Heritage Foundation will also celebrate later in the year with the Indian Heritage Day on October 7,2011. (OS)