While many people enjoyed Sunday’s warmer temperatures, the members of Vishnu Mandir Temple frolicked outside in colorful clouds to celebrate Holi.
Holi (also known as Phagwah) is a Hindu festival celebrated during Spring and is known as the festival of colors and love. The celebration of colors is kicked off the night before, called Holika Dahan, where people sing and dance around a bonfire. The fire is supposed to symbolize the victory over good and evil in relation to the Hindu story of devotee Prahlada and his evil aunt, Holika.
Usually there is a big parade in Queens that celebrates Holi, however, this year the parade was canceled. “Many people are upset that the parade in Queens is not happening this year but we must not forget that this day is about love and coming together. All of you joining us today came for that exact reason and we are proud to continue this tradition in our community.” said Officiating Priest, Pandit Vishnu Sukul to members of the temple.
But none of this stopped the Bronx Vishnu Mandir community from continuing their own celebration and receiving a commendation award from the NYC Comptroller’s Office for celebrating Holi for 19 years.
The date to celebrate Holi varies as it follows the approach of the vernal equinox on the Phalguna Purnima (full moon) based on the Hindu calender. The day is then spent in a beautifully chaotic splash of bright colors from children and adults throwing colored powder (gulal) or colored water at each other. This act of playfulness is meant to forget past grievances and to mend broken relationships.
Everyone is free game in Holi and will be covered in color regardless of class, age, sex, or race. The use of colors have different symbolic meanings, one of them being that everyone is made to look the same through these various colors and, therefore, are equal. It also symbolizes the coming of spring where monochrome gray and whites are replaced with lush green of leaves and bright color of flowers.
“This celebration gives us an opportunity to appreciate culture while interacting with the community at large and for over nineteen years we are showing that people of the Bronx are strong when united.” said Bharati Kemraj.
As a non-Hindu, I am deeply grateful to Bharati, her family, and all those who welcomed me and my family into the Vishnu Mandir Temple to experience the celebration of Holi firsthand. Not only was it an absolute blast with a wonderfully eclectic array of colors, but it was an experience that people pay a plane ticket to India to experience. Instead I got that experience in the Bronx.
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