Holi Festival Reflects the Openness of Southern Asia

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) – With the arrival of spring, members of the Sacramento Telangana Association (STA) celebrated the Holi Festival of Colors, according to the Hindu calendar, on Saturday, March 19, at Village Green Park.

Anil Reddy Kondakrinidi, STA Director At-large, said, “The festival has been spreading world-wide and now is in the Sacramento region in its fifth year, with 558 adults and 333 kids registered online, which equated to approximately 1200 participants attending.”

Rick Sloan, Cordova Recreation and Park District Board of Director, observed: “Attendants were happy, for this time, Holi was celebrated"'not somewhere in a cement parking lot"'but at the center of Village Green Park in Rancho Cordova.”

This year’s more civic approach is much more in tune with the way in which the festival apparently occurs in India"'out in the open streets, parks, outside temples and buildings.

The heavily forecast and somewhat misty weather in Sacramento this past weekend also lent itself to the festival, reminiscent of the strong precipitation often associated with their native land of India and providing a backdrop for the DJ music, dancing, performances and color throwing.

For those who adhere to Hindu belief, Holi is an annual opportunity for soul searching and praying, in order to extricate the interior life of the evils of past errors and conflicts and turn to forgiving and forgetting.

“Over 800 packets of color were distributed,” according to Reddy, who said the dousing of colors was a way to reflect the season of flowering, blooming and newness in nature.

From kids and adults alike in the hundreds was heard, “Happy Holi! Happy Holi! Happy Holi!”

“And, just like that,” Sloan noted, “people started blooming"'just like flowers.”

Sloan said he was left with the impression that the Indian festival was analogous to painting, where “people arrive as blank canvases and, throughout the duration of the event, become unique art pieces in exhibit.” Therein lay the significance of color in the human consciousness and identity, much celebrated in the religions of Southern Asia.

Reddy took a moment to thank Councilmember Garrett Gatewood for having strongly supported the celebration in Rancho Cordova from the outset several years ago. Councilmember Gatewood encouraged the STA adding, “There’s a hope the festival will bring in some 5000 visitors to the city in the year to come.” Councilmember Siri Pulipati was also present participating in the festivity.