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{{Music of Trinidad and Tobago}}
'''Pichakaree''' (or '''pichakaaree''') is an [[Indo-Caribbean music|Indo-Trinidadian form of music]], which originated in [[Trinidad and Tobago]].  It is named after the long [[syringe]]-like tubes used to spray [[abir]] during [[Holi|Phagwah]] celebrations.

==Description==
Pichakaree songs are generally social commentary, and are sung using a mixture of [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]] and [[Bhojpuri language|Bhojpuri]] words.  The musical form was devised by [[RaviJi]], spiritual leader of the [[Hindu Prachar Kendra]], as an Indo-Trinidadian counterpoint to [[Calypso music|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 [[Hinduism|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).''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.search.co.tt/trinidad/pichakaree/index.html |title=Pichakaree in Trinidad & Tobago<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2011-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129045429/http://search.co.tt/trinidad/pichakaree/index.html |archive-date=2010-11-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[http://legacy.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-03-13/features1.html The Trinidad Guardian -Online Edition Ver 2.0<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Relation with tantra== 
There are however Hindus who are open minded to such music and ascribe to the [[Tantra]] Tradition of Hinduism{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}.

== References ==
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{{Hinduism (compact)}}
[[Category:Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian culture]]
[[Category:Trinidad and Tobago styles of music]]


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