Holi or Phagwah festival was celebrated around USA on March 3 and 4 in various parts of USA in mandirs and in parks as well as in homes. It is a celebration where family and friends come together to mark the change in the season – from winter to spring. The large Asian Indian and Indian-Caribbean American communities in New York City observed Phagwah (also called Holi) with an evening symbolic burning of Holika and puja. Holi falls on the full moon in the month of March. On the evening, of the full moon, known as Holika Dahan, bonfire pyre is lit. The significance is the burning of evil – one’s mind is cleansed of evil thoughts and deeds and bad mind. Celebrants doused each other with a variety of talc powders and engaging in a variety of snacks (full vegetarian meal and an assortment of delicacies that go with the season).
Holi is not a holiday in New York or in America as in Guyana, Mauritius, etc. It is also not a school holiday. But students and staff who observe the festival are excused from attendance. The Indo Caribbean diaspora in America usually observe Holi with parade (s) in Richmond Hill, Queens Village, Bronx, Jersey City, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, etc. and or at gathering in a public park. The New York City parade is slated for march 29 in Richmond Hill. Asian Indians held separate celebrations in their communities in New York, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, Texas, etc. and in other states.
Indo-Caribbean Mandirs in New York and around the USA held cultural variety shows in the evening as well as chowtaal folk singing; chowtall comes from the Bhojpuri speaking belt of north India (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar). There were also speeches on the significance of the festival followed by bhojan.
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