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Holi 2008—The Festival Of Colors |
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On Sunday March 23rd, 2008 Masala radio in conjunction with Gujrati Samaj of Houston, Tara Energy, and India Culture Center hosted Holi 2008, Festival of Colors at Oyster Creek Park in Sugar Land. This auspicious celebration was planned on a grand scale this year and the turnout was amazing. A total of over 8,000 people attended this event and enjoyed live dance performances, fashion shows, rickshaw rides, delicious food and drenching friends and family in assorted colors of Holi. The Holika Dahan or burning of the Holika also took place to commence the ceremony followed by pooja. This event was free of cost and was open to the entire Houston community. People from various age groups, cultures, backgrounds and religions attended and enjoyed this colorful festival.
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Traditionally, Holi marks the celebration of good harvest and fertility of land, today Holi is celebrated as a symbolic commemoration of a legend from Hindu Mythology. The story is based on an arrogant king who resents his son Prahlada worshipping Lord Vishnu. The king attempts to kill his son but he never seems to succeed. Finally the king’s sister Holika, who was said to be immune to burning, sits with the king’s son Prahlada in a huge fire. However, Prahlada emerges unscratched while his aunt burned to death. This is why Holika is burned on this day. Hence, Holi celebrates victory of good over evil. This exuberant festival is also associated with the immortal love of Krishna and Radha and hence Holi is spread over 16 days in Vrindavan as well as Mathura, these are the 2 cities in which Lord Krishna shared a deep affiliation. Apart from the usual fun with colored powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandoned vitality. Holi 2008 Festival of Colors turned out to be a grand success! Everyone present was completely engrossed in the moment, even the elders were seen running around acting like children with huge smiles spread across their faces covering their friends and family with color. It’s no doubt that Sunil.T knows how to bring in a huge crowd and turn any event into a spicy and exciting party that no one wants to leave!
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