Kids sneaked up behind friends and family, color-bombing them in pink, yellow, and brilliant green powder. Laughter was the order of the day, with women in traditional or modern garb dancing to the music echoing across the field.
As has been a tradition in Secaucus for years, the town once again welcomed spring with an explosion of color at the Holi celebration in Mill Creek Point Park on Saturday afternoon, April 11.
Holi is the festival of colors,” explained Avni Pande, 14. She and her friends Reetu Parikh, Arushi Singh, and Mahek Virani, all 13, certainly looked the part, covered from head to toe in “gulal,” a brightly colored powder smeared on participants as part of a Hindu tradition dating back thousands of years.
“We come every year,” said Secaucus resident Darlene Votteler. “We love it.” Votteler was gladly turned into a human rainbow, along with her husband Joe and daughters Ariel, 13, and Olivia, 11.
Free food, music, dancing, and color, color, color marked the joyous Holi celebration in Mill Creek Point Park.
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Delicious food was plentiful, including vegetable samosas, sweet jalebi desserts, and thandai, “a traditional Holi drink made from milk and nuts,” according to Raj Pardasani.
The event was sponsored by the Indian Caucus of Secaucus. “Everything is free,” said Devanshi Parikh, who organized the event along with Sanchita Dutta and Namrita Changlani on behalf of the Indian Caucus of Secaucus.
Mayor Michael Gonnelli showed up to participate in the festival. Like everyone else, he walked away doused in vibrant hues.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.