COOPER CITY – On March 30th 2013 Hindus throughout South Florida will get together to participate in the celebration of Phagwah at Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City.
Holi is a Hindu religious festival which heralds the approach of Spring and is celebrated with great pomp, colours and enthusiasm.
Significance of Holi
There are many legends associated with the festival of Holi. The most common is the story of Prahlad, the son of the Asura king Hiranyakashipu.
The demon-king punished his son, Prahlad in a variety of ways to denounce Lord Narayana. He failed in all his attempts. Finally. he asked his sister Holika to take Prahlad in her lap and enter a blazing fire hoping that his son would perish. However, Holika’s boon ended by this act of supreme sin against the Lord’s devotee and was burnt to ashes and Prahlad came out unharmed. Metaphorically, the fire is meant to signify the destruction of evil, the burning of the effigy of ‘holika’ – a mythological character and the triumph of good as symbolised by Prahlad.
Highlights of Holi – the festival of colours
Holi is celebated with music, dance, food and coloured powder.
The music is called ‘Chowtal’ originally Bhojpuri folk music genres which was brought to the Caribbean by indentured labourers who migrated from various regions of India. The music sung in groups is unique, usually loud with fast-paced rythmns which stimulate dancing and merriment. Traditional Holi vegetarian dishes are prepared with mouthwatering sweets and delicacies. Colours are the most joyous part of Holi celebration. Coloured powder and water are sprinkled on each other, they represent the colourful vasant (spring season) when the Indian landscape is full of flowers. The significance of the red colour is purity, green is vitality, blue is calm and sedateness and yellow represents happiness. Hindus, non-hindus, women, men, rich and poor participate in this colourful event. The colours add life, vitality and fun to the festival creating a happy atmosphere.
Holi strengthens the bond with families and friends and brings everyone together. It is a time for rejuvenation of the mind and soul.
Hindus throughout the world would share prayer, camaraderie and special food to celebrate the festival.
United Phagwah invites everyone to join in this fun celebration on March 30th, 2013. “The purpose is to promote, preserve, unite and inspire people to come together to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Indo-Caribbean nationals from Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, other parts of the Caribbean, South America, India and other countries. The massive portrayal of goodwill on this occasion should generate positive feelings toward one another and help to heal deep-seated divisions within our community and beyond. Phagwah or Holi dates back to over 5,000 years. Phagwah marks the beginning of spring and ushers in a time of the sharing of goodwill and our bounty,” said Denyse Baboolal, producer of the event. Special guest artistes Neeshan Prabhoo from Trinidad & Tobago, King Raj from New York along with local artistes, tassa groups and youth groups from various temples would be performing at the event.
Phagwah Events
Brian Piccolo Park
9501 Sheridan St.
Cooper City, Fl 33024
March 30th 12-6pm.
Admission is Free!!!
(Park’s Gate fee is $1.50 per person) Veggie food & non-alcoholic beverages will be on sale.
The Festival will also be celebrated by various Mandirs throughout South Florida. In Palm Beach County the Shri Maha Lakshmi Mandi will be celebrating Holi on March 31st at Okeeheelee Park commencing at 10:00 a.m. Everyone is invited. Admission is free!!!
