www.qns.com APRIL 1, 2022 8RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Holi celebration makes a beautiful
comeback in South Richmond Hill
BY DEAN MOSES
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Queens showed its true colors Sunday.
The Phagwah Parade returned on
March 27 after a long, two-year hiatus
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as
the festival of colors, the traditional march
was traded in for a stationary, concertesque
atmosphere on Liberty Avenue and
Lefferts Boulevard; however, this did not
dampen spirits.
Hundreds from all over the five
boroughs turned out to commemorate
Holi, the Hindu spring festival celebrated
throughout North India on the full-moon
day of Phalguna. The celebration represents
the arrival of spring and the triumph
of good over evil.
On this day, revelers shower one another
in multicolored liquid and power,
with each shade carrying a meaning.
From the young to the old, laughter became
mixed with a haze of dye that rained
down over the crowd as participants highlighted
each other in a rainbow. Tossing
the colors to Hindu music, the spectrum of
powder became so dense at certain points
the crowd could barely see a foot ahead of
them.
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards congratulated his constituents
for the high number of vaccinations
and promised that next year the parade
would return properly. Mayor Adams also
attended the celebration, although noticeably
attempted to dodge any powder that
came his way.
“This is such an important day. Phagwah
is the Festival of Colors, and it shows the
colors and diversity of our city and what
this community means to us,” Adams said.
“This is a community that has contributed
so much and now this is your moment to
say that you are very much part of New
York. We look forward to being your partners.
You helped me become the mayor,
and I’m gonna help you become the strong
community that you desire to become.”
Photos by Dean Moses
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