Sunday afternoon on Field E between the library and Town Center felt more like early November than early May: low clouds, a chilly breeze, and occasional sprinkles.
And something else… Mist – Red, yellow, green, blue, pink, orange, and purple mist, exploding skyward, drifting in shapeless forms filling the space with dazzling colors.
What else would you expect at the second annual celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi, presented by the South Asian Association of Bedford (SAAB)?
More than 300 people of all ages flung, plastered, or sprinkled colored powders on each other for a couple of hours on the field in what is often described as an exercise in pure joy. Taruna Shah, one of the organizers, told the crowd that “the most important part is to have fun. Embrace the spirit of Holi and make this celebration a time to cherish.”
The cultural experience was enhanced by authentic music and food, and defined by color everywhere – shoes and shirts, faces and hair and hands, in splotches and patterns and smears. And nobody seemed to mind.
Shah, using the band’s amplifier, explained that Holi “heralds the end of winter and the start of spring, a time for new beginnings. This ancient tradition celebrates the triumph of good over evil and deep bonds of family and friends through the playful throwing of colored powder.”
The organization promoted the event as an opportunity for everyone to partake in the fun.
“Today we come together as a community, representing different cultures, backgrounds, and traditions, to celebrate this colorful festival of joy and togetherness,” Lalitha Ranganath told the crowd.
The powder is made from cornstarch and washes out easily. Although most of the color applications unfolded on the playing field with kids chasing each other with bags of powder and their parents politely pouring it on each other, the perimeter wasn’t spared. For example, four folks from the Callahan Karate Studio, one of the event sponsors, arrived in white uniforms that were soon tie-dyed.
Ranganath shared some details about SAAB, which formerly was called the Bedford Desi Group.
“SAAB was established with the aim to foster a vibrant community that honors the rich South Asian culture and values through social, cultural, and community initiatives.”
There are more than 200 families affiliated, she said, and part of their mission is “to ensure that South Asians are fully integrated and represented within the wider Bedford community.”
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