• Menu
  • Menu
  • Pavilions
  • Subscribe now
    Digital subscription Print+Digital (Bundle) ePaper
  • Logout
Digital subscription
Print+Digital (Bundle)
ePaper
Trending
UAE holidays Videos Classifieds Credit Card Deals
  • Latest News
  • UAE
    • People
    • Science
    • Government
    • Education
    • Crime
    • Emergencies
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Transport
    • Weather
    • Ask the Law
  • Living In UAE
    • Visa+Immigration
    • Housing
    • Phone+Internet
    • Banking
    • Transport
    • Health
    • Education
    • Relocate
    • Reader Queries
    • Safety+Security
  • Business
    • Banking & Insurance
    • Aviation
    • Property
    • Tax News
    • Corporate Tax
    • Analysis
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Markets
    • Retail
    • Corporate News
    • Tech
    • Auto
  • Best Buys
    • Electronics
    • Home and Kitchen
    • Offers
    • Consumables
    • Lifestyle
  • Your Money
    • Saving and Investment
    • Budget Living
    • Taxation
    • Expert Columns
    • Community Tips
    • Cryptocurrency
  • Food
    • Cooking and Cuisines
    • Guide to Cooking
    • Food Show
    • Videos
  • Friday
    • Beauty
    • Wellbeing
    • Art & People
    • Home
    • Friday Partner
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Sudoku
    • Word Search
    • Spell It
  • Podcasts
  • World
    • Gulf
      • Bahrain
      • Kuwait
      • Oman
      • Qatar
      • Saudi
      • Yemen
    • Mena
    • Europe
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
      • India
      • Pakistan
      • Philippines
    • Australia-New Zealand
    • Corrections
  • Opinion
    • Columnists
  • Special Reports
  • Things To Do
    • Events & Concerts
    • Bars, Clubs & Pubs
    • Cafes, Restaurants & News
    • Going Out
  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy & Baby
    • Learning & Play
    • Child Health
    • For Mums & Dads
    • Ask Us
    • Games
  • UAE Success Stories
  • Photos
  • Sport
    • UAE Sport
    • Cricket
      • IPL
    • Motorsport
    • Football
      • Premiere League
    • Tennis
    • Golf in UAE
      • UAE
      • World
      • Photos & Videos
      • Course Reviews
      • Learn to Play
      • Gear
    • Olympics
  • Entertainment
    • Hollywood
    • Bollywood
    • South Indian
    • Music
    • OTT
  • Auto
  • Lifestyle
    • Health+Fitness
  • GN Reach
  • Tech
    • Electronics
    • Gaming
    • Media
  • Videos
    • Best Of Bollywood
    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Community
  • Special Features
    • Supplement eBook
  • The Kurator
    • Life
    • Luxury
    • Style
  • Gold-Forex
  • Gratuity Calculator
  • Notifications
  • Coupons
  • Gold/Forex
  • Prayer Times
  • ePaper
  • GN Store
  • About Gulf News
  • Contact us
  • Work with us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Reach by GN
  • GN Focus
  • Gulf News epaper
  • Sitemap
  • Have your say
  • Printing Services
    • © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2024. All rights reserved.
    Suriname Pavilion at Expo 2020: Did you know? Indians are the majority in this tiny South American country

    Expo 2020

    Login / Sign Up
    Logout
    Friday, November 22, 2024
    Gold / Forex

    Expo 2020 Pavilions

    All Sections
    Expo 2020 Dubai

    Suriname Pavilion at Expo 2020: Did you know? Indians are the majority in this tiny South American country

    Holi is one of the biggest celebrations in tropical Suriname - find out why

    Published:  November 04, 2021 11:15 Sahar Ejaz, Staff Writer
    Follow us
    1 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    A cook-slash-tour guide back home, Heuwell Barker is more than happy to receive curious visitors at the Suriname Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Barker’s colourful and easy-going personality is perhaps a product of the ethnically diverse social fabric of the South American country. The guide ticks them off on his fingers as he takes Gulf News on an exclusive tour of the Expo-leased pavilion in the Sustainability District: “Every Surinamese person can make Indian, Chinese, Javanese and Creole food – that’s the beauty of Suriname”. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    2 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    With a coastline hugging the Atlantic Ocean, tropical Suriname sits just north of Brazil, housing a modest population of over half a million. Three-centuries-long colonial rule by the Dutch amassed people from the Indian subcontinent, Indonesia, China and wider Africa, who joined the indigenous tribes of Suriname to form five major ethnic groups in the country today – a fact proudly depicted on the Surinamese national flag inside the pavilion. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    3 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    “The second-largest celebration in Suriname is actually Holi after New Year’s. The entire country comes together to celebrate the festival of colours, not just Indians. On the day, you usually head over to an Indian family or friend’s house, feast, sprinkle each other with colours then make your way to festivals,” Barker said of the largest ethnic group in the country. This is punctuated with an excited mention of the 2002 Hindi movie ‘Devdas’ that Barker shares everyone is a fan of. “Bollywood is big in Suriname,” he added. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    4 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    A cosy kitchenette past the entrance, which Barker refers to as “grandma’s kitchen”, is decked with spices one would find in a typical Surinamese home. The spice set naturally hails from three different continents, but in the oven you find the end result in the form of a popular Surinamese festive dish, ‘pom’, made of shredded American taro. The country is a delightful sum of cultures and traditions. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    5 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    Traces of the Dutch rule live on in the official language spoken and the white wooden buildings of capital city Paramaribo. A city cam of the Dutch town plays on loop on one wall, and scarce few visitors will know that the red bricks lining the base of every building were initially ballast in the 18th century. “The Dutch couldn’t sail in empty cargo boats, so they loaded the vessels with red bricks, which are abundant in Holland, before coming to Suriname,” said Barker. Excess bricks then became part of Surinamese homes. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    6 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    About 94 per cent of Suriname is actually vast expanses of rainforest. Visitors learn this when they step into a green narrow pathway flanked by screens on either side. Species endemic to the jungles make an appearance here. Among these, the blue poison dart frog stands out. Barker said that the native tribes in southern Suriname would coat their blow darts with the frogs’ poison to fish and hunt. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    7 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    African palaver stools carved out of wood are on display up ahead. The Ndyuka tribe of African descent is known for their mastery over wood, especially when the practice was to hollow out tree trunks to build korjalen or small canoes. Used to cross rapids in streams, the boat rides are incredibly popular with tourists. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
    8 of 8
    suriname pavilion expo 2020
    In the last room, another wooden sculpture made of different types of wood sees visitors out. Layered with various shades, from light oak to mahogany, the handmade artwork of a tribesperson is a frequent sight in Surinamese homes as well. Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News

    Trending

    • Czech Republic turns air into water at Expo 2020

      Czech Republic turns air into water at Expo 2020

    • Expo 2020: Would you wear a T shirt made of plastic?
      Exclusive

      Expo 2020: Would you wear a T shirt made of plastic?

    • Expo 2020 Dubai gets set to bid goodbyes to the world
      Expo 2020 Dubai

      Expo 2020 Dubai gets set to bid goodbyes to the world

    • Confirmed: New date for Expo 2020 Dubai
      Update

      Confirmed: New date for Expo 2020 Dubai

    • Expo 2020: Visit the Notre-Dame exhibition in Dubai

      Expo 2020: Visit the Notre-Dame exhibition in Dubai

    • Step into fascinating neon chambers at Expo 2020 Dubai
      Expo 2020 Dubai

      Step into fascinating neon chambers at Expo 2020 Dubai

    Latest In

    • Putin hints at strikes on West in 'global' Ukraine war

      1 hour ago

    • Gaetz withdraws as Trump's attorney general pick

      1 hour ago

    • Pop-star Ed Sheeran helped Ipswich transfer deal

      1 hour ago

    • Microsoft targets Egyptian linked to DIY phishing kits

      1 hour ago

    • Etihad Park: A landmark sports venue coming in New York

    Go back to top
    Network links:
    • GN Store
    • About Gulf News
    • Contact us
    • Work with us
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Advertise with us
    • Reach by GN
    • GN Focus
    • Gulf News epaper
    • Sitemap
    • Have your say
    • Printing Services
    Find us on Social
    © Al Nisr Publishing LLC 2024. All rights reserved.
    This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.
    Share on Facebook
    Share on Twitter
    Share on Whatsapp
    Share on Mail
    Share on LinkedIn
    Copy link
    Follow on Whatsapp
    Follow on Google
    Follow on Telegram
    Close
    Gulf News

    Get Breaking News Alerts From Gulf News

    We’ll send you latest news updates through the day. You can manage them any time by clicking on the notification icon.

    Subscribe No Thanks