Pichakaree

Music of Trinidad and Tobago
General topics
Portal:Music of Trinidad and Tobago
Genres
Canboulay Calypso Chutney Steelpan Calypsonian Calypso tent Picong Parang Soca Rapso Pichakaree
Media and performance
Music media	Music television Synergy TV Tempo TV
National anthem	Forged from the Love of Liberty (national anthem)
Regional music
Local forms	Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Bermuda Caymans Dominica Grenada Jamaica Montserrat St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Virgin Islands
Aruba and the Dutch Antilles Cuba Dominican Republic Haiti Martinique and Guadeloupe Puerto Rico

Pichakaree (or pichakaaree) is an Indo-Trinidadian musical form which originated in Trinidad and Tobago. It is named after the long syringe-like tubes used to spray abir during Phagwah celebrations.

Pichakaree songs are generally social commentary, and are sung using a mixture of Hindi, English and Bhojpuri words. The musical form was devised by RaviJi, spiritual leader of the Hindu Prachar Kendra, as an Indo-Trinidadian counterpoint to calypso. Pichakaree competitions are an integral part of Phagwa celebrations hosted by the Hindu Prachar Kendra. This has been criticised by Satnarayan Maharaj of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (the largest Hindu organisation in Trinidad and Tobago), saying that Phagwah is a religious celebration, and "A sacred occasion like Phagwa must not be used to piggy-back behaviour that is adharamic (anti-religious in the Vedic Tradition)."^{[citation needed]}

There are however Hindus who are open minded to such music and ascribe to the Tantra Tradition of Hinduism.

At the Kendra Phagwa Festival and Pichakaree Competition 2011, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honorable Mrs. Kamla Persad Bissessar will be the chief guest.