A colourful Holi Festival took place in Clearwater on March 29 at the home of Princess Mavi and her mother Harjit Sandhu, to welcome the coming of spring. The mother and daughter invited the community to join in the celebrations, and more than 40 people attended over the course of the afternoon.
Mavi explained the festival to the Clearwater Times, noting that "Holi is a festival of colour. This festival is a celebration of colours, love, equality, and spring. Holi also celebrates the arrival of spring in India, the end of winter, and the blossoming of love. It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season.
"People wear white during Holi for its practicality and symbolic significance. White serves as a canvas for colours, symbolizing purity, new beginnings, and unity, but really, you can wear any colour.
"This wouldn't have happened without the help from our friend AJ Bachhal, who provided the colours to us for the festival. We are so thankful to him."
There was an array of traditional Indian food on hand, such as pakoras, chili chicken, and (as a main meal) Dal Makni and rice curry. There were also beverages, music, and "lots of fun," Mavi added.
"It was truly wonderful," said Clearwater's Cheryl Thomas. "Such a joyous experience and so lovely to learn about other cultures like this first hand. The weather was great and we had such a fun time visiting, surrounded by love and joy."
District of Clearwater councillor and School District #73 trustee Shelley Sim told the Times, “What a wonderful way to learn more about a culture. Such generosity! The lovely food and kind care was a gift to many. We need more pop-up parties to connect us as a community. This was really lovely. Gratitude to the hosts and the most incredible food: so delicious!”
Traditionally, the Holi Festival lasts for a night and a day, beginning on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) falling in the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.
