Happy Holi: Hindu festival marks return of spring

People gathered at École Mathieu-Martin in Dieppe on Sunday to celebrate Holi, a Hindu festival featuring bursts of colour.

The Hindu festival of Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, marks the beginning of spring.

It honours the Hindu deities Krishna and his consort Radha. Celebrators often throw gulal, or coloured powder, on each other.

Ketan Raval, the event organizer and a member of Indo-Canada Association of the Greater Moncton Area, said it's one of the largest festivals celebrated in India.

"The philosophy is that when you spray the colour on everyone's face, everyone is equal," he said.

Sunday's festival featured music, dance, games and food. Many children were present. Raval said one of the goals is to help them understand the culture. 

Shabdita Saha said the Holi festival is a way of bringing the community together.

"We want to embrace our culture, the same time the Canadian culture, too."

She said the festival can also help newcomers who might be feeling homesick.

"This is a great way of bringing them together and telling them that although they are far from home, they are not away, we are all there for them in case they need anything."

Nine-year-old Shaanvia Saswat said she wanted to attend the festival for fun and to see her friends.

"Since this is a festival, you play with your friends and exchange gifts, which is very exciting," she said.

"Celebrating the culture, it gives me a feeling, even though I'm very far from my country, it gives me a feeling I'm still in my country and I'm never going to leave my religion and country."

Eleven-year-old Samruddhi Raval said Holi is her favourite festival because it's a way to meet people, but also an opportunity to eat some tasty food

"You have amazing, delicious, scrumptious food. It's so good. And you play with colours, that's the best part."

Like Shaanvia, Samruddhi said Holi helps her feel closer to home.

"It just reminds me of India," she said. "It's just amazing."