New Brunswick Library Announces Annual Indian Holi Celebration

From the New Brunswick Free Public Library:

The New Brunswick Free Public Library will be celebrating its seventh, annual Indian Holi Festival on Saturday, April 9 from 1-4 p.m. in the library’s Carl T. Valenti Community Room. The performances will begin after remarks by Upendra J. Chivukula, commissioner of the Board of Public Utility.

Holi is an exuberant festival of colors celebrated in the month of March. Originally called Holika, it is meant to be a festival that brings people together. Meeting and greeting friends and relatives as well as exchanging sweets and gifts are integral parts of Holi.

The celebration will begin with Mehndi, the Indian henna tattoo that is applied to the hands. This temporary tattoo plays varied roles in Indian culture. It leaves an ornate, brownish orange design that will stay on for a few days once tried. There will also be a display of regional dresses, an Indian jewelry display, children activities and free raffle as well as music and dance performances by the Rutgers students and Hindi USA. A variety of Indian food and delicacies will be provided for sampling. Finally, Holi color play (throwing colored powder) will take place on the library’s front lawn with weather permitting. Participants in the color play are encouraged to wear old clothes that they do not mind getting dirty. The library will be unable to have color play participants back inside the building.

This family event is free to attend and open to the public. The program has been organized in conjunction with the Rutgers Indian Graduate Students Association (RIGSA), Hindi USA and the South Asian Total Health Initiative (SATHI). RIGSA organizes a number of social gatherings and cultural shows each semester. Hindi USA is the largest Hindi volunteer organization in the U.S. SATHI is a program based out of UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School for improving health and well-being of South Asian communities.

Further information is available through the New Brunswick Free Public Library website.