Hindu Holi Festival

Throwing with colored powder for the spring

27 Mar 2013

Celebrate the spring in The Hague’s Transvaal district with the Hindu Holi Festival on Wednesday, 27 March: A festival of Colours.

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People throwing with powder at a Hindu Holi Festival - found on the website of Gemeente The Hague

The Holi Festival, also known as the Festival of Colours, is celebrated annually by the global Indian diaspora. The festival in The Hague’s multicultural Transvaal district begins with a procession and is followed by celebrations with participants throwing brightly coloured powder at each other. The day’s events are rounded off with multicultural song and dance performances.

Hindu tradition

Every year thousands of Hindus participate in the Holi festival, which is the equivalent of New Year for Hindus. The festival has many purposes. First and foremost, it celebrates the beginning of the new season: Spring.
Originally it was a festival that commemorated good harvests and the fertile land. Hindus believe it is a time of enjoying spring's abundant colours and saying farewell to winter. It also has a religious purpose, commemorating events in Hindu mythology.

More info

The Holi festival will be held on Wednesday, 27 March from 13.00 to 18.00 hrs. at the Transvaal neighbourhood park (located between Wolmaransstraat and Scheeperstraat). The festival is organised every year in the Netherlands by Stichting Holi Samen