The Indian Association of Sacramento welcomes all as they take over downtown Sacramento to celebrate Holi- otherwise known as the Festival of Spring, the Festival of Love or the Festival of Colors!
Holi is considered one of the most revered and celebrated festivals of India and it is celebrated in almost every part of the country. It gained its reputation as the "Festival of Love" because on this day people get to unite together forgetting all resentments and bad feeling towards each other. The vibrancy of colors represent renewed joy and positivity in our lives, and through the entire holiday dry colored powder, colored water balloons and squirt guns are used to paint anyone and everyone in the joyous colors of the festival. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children, and elders. The frolic and fight with colors occurs in the open streets, parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes come together to throw colored powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks.
Our scene starts downtown after dusk. The streets and sidewalks are barely recognizable coated in the swirl of vibrant powders through the festival's activities. Many have gone home for the evening but if you missed the activities from the afternoon don't think you're safe from being brightened up! Street vendors are out and about selling traditional foods for the holiday and otherwise the pubs and establishments in the area are hosting drink specials and live music with tables or high tops available to mingle at. Stringed lights are weaved over the streets for several blocks to provide a soft illumination for the event through the early hours of the morning.
Unfortunately, due to current restrictions the association was unable to be granted permits for the traditional bonfires this year.
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