Holi Festival In New Brunswick April 7

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ — The New Brunswick Free Public Library is celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi this Saturday, April 7.

All are welcome to join. There is no charge to participate in the festival, which includes color festivities using dry and wet colors, mehndi (henna), music, dance, food and more. The festival goes from 1-3 p.m. at the New Brunswick Public Library at 60 Livingston Ave. in New Brunswick.

Please join us for a vibrant, fun-filled celebration of the Indian Festival of colors! This program is free and open to all ages. The festivities begin with Mehndi (Indian henna tattoo), a display of regional dresses, and crafts for children. There will be music and dance performances, delicious Indian food and a free raffle.

Weather permitting, join us on the library’s front lawn after the performances if you wish to participate in the Holi Color Festivity (dry and wet colors). Please make sure to wear old clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, and please understand that you will not be allowed back in the building after color play.

The library will celebrate its 9th annual Indian Holi Festival in cooperation with Rutgers Indian Graduate Student Association, Rutgers Hindu Students Council, and South Asian Total Health Initiative (SATHI).

For more information, please contact librarian Kavita Pandey at kavita@lmxac.org or 732-745-5108 x20.

Funding provided in part by Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, The Folklife Program for New Jersey, and New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Dept. of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Hinduism, the third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

What is Holi?

"This is a victory of good over evil," Jagdish Varma, who told the Arcadia, California Patch the story of an ancient king who thought he was a god.

When King Hiranyakashyap ordered that everyone worship him as a god, his own son Prahlad, a devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu, stood up to him. Needless to say, the power-hungry ruler didn't appreciate his son's opinion.

"So, he wanted to have his son killed," Varma said. "He ordered him to be burnt alive."

The king then enlisted the help of his sister, Holika, after whom the celebration is named. According to legend, she possesed a power that rendered her indestructible, even by fire. The king instructed her to hold his son as they sat upon a pyre and were doused by flames. Amazingly, however, the son survived the fiery onslaught while Holika was burned.

"It represents a victory of the divinity of God overcoming the pride of the king," Varma said.

Throughout its long history, it has also taken on a lighter spirit.

"It's a celebration of springtime, that's why there's all the colors," Varma said.

He added that it's also the time of year when many Indian farmers harvest their crops and therefore come together to celebrate the harvest. In fact, the colors come from natural plants that promote healing, many of them originating within the India's largest state, Rajasthan, located in northern India, where some of the most elaborate Holi celebrations take place.

"The spring season, during which the weather changes, is believed to cause viral fever and cold," said event organizer Mohna Manihar. "The playful throwing of natural colored powders has a medicinal significance. The colors were traditionally made of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva and other medicinal herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors."

All colors for Holi were once made from natural resources. Saffron came from the flowers of Palash or 'Flame of the Forest' and marigold were sources for yellow/orange, pinks and reds came from roses, indigo was the source of blue, Manihar said.

Top image via Shutterstock