Songs from Hindi movies seem to be more popular here and the cab driver carrying Indians flaunts a CD of Bollywood hits with a sense of pride.

There are half a dozen cinema halls in Georgetown, Guyana's capital town, and there are occasions when most of them screen Hindi films.

About 44 per cent of the 3.27 lakh (300,000) population are ethnic Indians.

Films like Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna [Images] are big crowd pullers.

The younger generation like to see films starring Preity Zinta [Images] and Kajol [Images] while older movie buffs enjoy films with Amitabh Bachchan [Images] and Dharmendra [Images]. Mithun Chakraborty used to be quite popular in Guyana once, locals recall.

While Hindi is taught at a local college, Hindu festivals like Phagwa (as Holi is known in these parts) and Diwali are celebrated with gaiety. Many Hindus recite the Gayatri Mantra and institutions like the Guyana Hindu Dharmik Sabha and Arya Samaj are found in this distant South American country.

Like Hindi cinema, Indian music too has caught the fancy of the local people.

Chutney music is gradually becoming very popular in Guyana whose population comprises 43.5 per cent Indian, 30 per cent African, nine per cent Amerindian, and the rest of European, Chinese and Mixed origin.

Chutney is an up-tempo, rhythmic song, accompanied by the dholak, harmonium and dhantal. Originally, Chutney songs had references to deities and were deemed offensive by religious leaders.

Some of the new Chutney compositions contain calypso and soca rhythms. There is also accompaniment (especially in the growing number of Chutney competitions) by bands which include Indian, Western and African instruments. The exotic sounds of Chutney music blare from taxis, dance clubs and on the streets.

Formerly British Guiana, Guyana is located on the northeastern shores of South America. English is spoken by most inhabitants.

Its Amerindian name means Land of Many Waters and the country is laced with countless creeks and rivers. As if all this tropical beauty is not enough, diamonds and gold are deposited in the hillsides and the bottom of rivers.

Georgetown has charming 19th century homes and tree-lined boulevards along the canals built during the days when the Dutch ruled the country.

Additional input: Rediff International Bureau