KILDARE: Spring festival brings Irish and Indian communities together
It's a colourful spectacle
Members of the Indian community hosted a celebration at the community centre in Caragh to mark the Holi celebration.
It was organised by the Bihar Jharkhand Association of Ireland (BJAI), which refers to a state in eastern India. This ancient festival is held in India annually to welcome Spring.
Even though Holi is a festival in India, it is now becoming a global event and people from multiple countries celebrate it.
Participants take part to maker the arrival of the new season and to thang god the good harvest. The celebration of Holi lasts for two days. The first day of the celebration is called Holika Dahan and the second day is Rangwali Holi.
The programme programme included a welcome address by Ambassador of India to Ireland Shri Akhilesh Mishra and his wife Mrs Reeti Mishra, Mayor of Naas Cllr Evie Sammon and other guest speakers which included Cllrs Seami Moore, Tracey O’Dwyer, Peggy O’Dwyer, Annie O’Shea (Bealtaine Festival) , Ms Gwen Byrne (Bealtainie Festival), Col Raymond Lane and local gardaí Insp Tony Connaughton and Deirdre Davoren.
The event started with lamp lighting and was followed by singing the national anthems of India and Ireland.
The guests addressed those present and groups of children groups performed folk dance,followed by adult tradition dance and songs with Bollywood hits with some music being provided by an in-house DJ. The showstopper event of the day was Fagua, a traditional Bihari folk singing style which is always associated with Holi and spring.
“The room was filled with happiness, laughter and kindness,” said BJAI representative Abhishek Thakur.
Some bihari cuisine which included dahi vadas (lentils), malpuas (pancakes) and boondi (chickpeas).