Pasadena Hindu Temple to Host Public Celebration of Colorful Holi Festival

The Pasadena Hindu Temple will celebrate one of the most significant and popular festivals in Hinduism, Holi, with two events this week after abstaining for three years because of the pandemic.

Holi is well known outside the Hindu community for its joyful throwing of brightly colored powders that celebrate the approaching end of winter and the arrival of spring, rebirth, and the blooming of love. People cherish Holi as a day to interact with others, engage in playful activities, let go of grudges, and reconcile broken bonds while also seeking blessings for a prosperous spring harvest.

Shubhshree Bhargava, a volunteer in charge of the Pasadena Temple’s Holi activities, said that the festival is celebrated in two parts. The first part is the Holika Dahan where a bonfire is lit at the temple, and offerings are made. This will take place on Monday. The second part, Holi Hungama, is where people play with colors. This event will take place on Saturday, March 11 at Victory Park, 2575 Paloma Street, Pasadena. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The color-filled Holi Hungama is open to the public.

Bhargava explained that the events are open to everyone, and they want the larger community to participate in the festival, especially during the color play.

“These events are open to everyone,” Bhargava said. “We would love for people to come and see — be a part of this. It’s a beautiful event. Typically we’ve had people from all many different cultures and kids and everybody participating.”

She also shared that the festival has a beautiful significance, it is a time when people come together, and it’s a time when skin color and other differences become irrelevant.

Colored powders and authentic Indian foods will be available at nominal prices, Bhargava said.

For more information visit https://www.thepasadenahindutemple.org/ or call Shubhshree Bhargava at (415) 216-7075.