Friends and family gathered to spread the color around during the Indian holiday of Holi, celebrating the triumph of good over evil and the coming of spring, which took place in Jersey City today.
Holi - Image ResultsA couple hundred people attended the festival in a lot next to Art House Productions, at 1 McWilliams Place. Music, dancing, and food were served up all day by Art House Productions, a multi-arts organization, and Surati, a performing arts organization celebrating Indian culture. "This is exciting, the music is great and the kids are happy," said Rashmi Das, 35, of New York City.
The festival is known for its use of water colors that are dumped, smeared, and spread amongst friends in India. Although dry powder colors were used at today's event, people were covered in shades of red, blue, green, and yellow. "My wife just caught me from the side, I never saw her," said Yogh Edke, 38, of Christopher Columbus Drive, whose face was covered in two different hues of green. "I'm glad I came out today, I almost didn't because it was a little chilly," he said.
Holi - Video Results
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The festival had been in the works for about a month and a half, according to Christine Goodman, one of the organizers of the event. One of the main reasons for holding it, aside from giving Indian families a chance to reconnect with their roots, was to make it a multi-cultural experience for locals. "We have never done this before and did not quite know what to expect but it has turned out to be a wonderful time," said Goodman, who is also the Founder and Executive Director of Art House Productions.
All proceeds from the event are going to be used to keep both organizations, Art House and Surati, moving forward, Goodman said.
"I cannot wait to start rocking out," said Vivek Sahrma, 45, of River Court. Vivek, like many of the festivalgoers, was covered in dry paint. "This is a perfect chance for the community to come together and have fun -- this is what Holi is all about," Sharma said.
The festivities will not end today. On Sunday at 1 p.m., the 19th Annual Holi/Pagwah Parade will take place along Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City, from Stegman Parkway to Lincoln Park.
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