“Summertime and the livin’ is easy” comes later. Right now, it’s “Holi time and the borough is colorful!”
Full of dance, too.
Several Queens venues – from Bayside to Flushing to Richmond Hill – are ready to host observations of this ancient Hindu festival, which is celebrated around the world at the beginning of Spring. A chronological list follows.
Saturday, March 22
Flushing Town Hall presents an afternoon of Indian music and dance embracing color and joy, starting at 2:15 pm.
The event begins with a workshop led by master Kathak teaching artist Abha Roy, who is also the artistic director of Srijan Dance Center
Srijan members perform the Indian classical forms of thumri and tarana intertwined into a single piece in kathak style. Then, it’s time for Dr. Narendra Budhakar’s tabla solo, Rajasthani folk dances, and Phagwah folk music by Roshni Harripersaud, Ethan Rampersaud, and Brandon Mohammed from Guyana. Queens Curry Kitchen will sell food.
FTH is at 137-35 Northern Blvd. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $8 for children.
Sunday, March 23
The internationally famous Phagwah Parade is scheduled to kick off in the vicinity of Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street in Richmond Hill at 10 am. (Editor’s note: don’t expect punctuality.)
It’s free, and attendees should expect to be covered in talcum powder and colored water as the floats pass by. It’s part of the fun…and a good omen. They should also expect several hours of music, dance, and tremendous outfits.
On the same day, but at 3 pm, Bayside Historical Society hosts an Indian Dance Celebration as part of its ongoing Passport Concert series. Ajna Dance Company members take the audience through the Classical, Folk, and Bollywood genres via interactive demonstrations and live performances. Then, attendees will show off their newly learned dance moves.
Admission is $15, and BHS is located at 208 Totten Ave. in Fort Totten Park. The building is referred to as “The Castle,” and seeing it is worth the trip alone. Completed in 1887 when Fort Totten was an active military base, the three-story, wood-framed Gothic Revival mansion with octagonal corner pavilions once served as the Officers’ Mess Hall and Club for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It has historic designations from the city, state, and federal governments.
FTH gets back into the mood with the Ragini Festival at 5 pm.
Not related to Holi, this concert celebrates classic Indian and contemporary Indo-Caribbean sounds, such as Chutney and Island Sonic. The lineup features Bollywood tunes by singer Ben Parag followed by a percussion mashup with the essential materials behind Trinidadian rhythm: iron; steel; and leather.
Live DJing is also in the mix.Tickets cost $30.
Saturday, March 29
Queens County Farm Museum’s first-ever Holi Celebration is on Saturday, March 29, from 10 am to noon.
Trained educators and traditional dancers will teach about Holi’s origins, evolution, and how it’s celebrated around the world. Then, the public will eat Indian snacks and run around the south side of the property, engaging in color play with vibrant powders that create a kaleidoscope of joy.
Editor’s note: Guests are encouraged to wear “stainable” clothing and bring towels or a sheet for the ride home.
Admission runs from $10 to $13. Queens Farm’s entrance is at 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy. in Floral Park. A large, free parking lot is just inside the front gate.
Holi
Often called the “Festival of Colors,” Holi is a joyful celebration of Spring’s arrival as per the Hindu lunar calendar. The main themes are the triumph of light over darkness (or good over evil) and the divine love and devotion between the deities Radha and Krishna.
Divisions created by age, caste, gender, and wealth are forgotten, and revelers are encouraged to have fun and deviate a bit from societal norms.
Top image: Ajna Dance Company;
Bottom image: Queens County Farm Museum