March 29, 2013

Holi at Solar One!

What: For those who may be unfamiliar with Holi, it is the festival that marks the beginning of spring for thousands of the world’s Hindus. The main activity of the festival involves dressing up in white clothing and throwing colored powders at each other. Because the changes of weather in springtime are often believed to cause colds and fevers, traditional Holi powders were made with medicinal herbs to ward off illness. For Solar One’s Holi festival, we will be throwing colored powders, but they will be made with food coloring and rice flour so as to be as benign as possible. The powders may also be mixed with water to form a paste which participants smear on each other.

Holi originated in ancient Bengal as part of the veneration and worship of Lord Vishnu, the preserver diety of Hindu mythology. Holi is also closely associated with Vishnu’s avatar Krishna, who played holi games with the cow-herding girls (gopis) who were his companions during his childhood.


When: Friday, March 29 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Where: Solar One: 24-20 Fdr Drive Service Road East, New York

FREE