JERSEY CITY, NJ: On Saturday, May 5, Surati for Performing Arts hosted their 10th Annual Holi Hai Festival of Colors in Exchange Place, from 12 noon – 8 pm. This free event actively brought together thousands of people, from diverse communities, through multicultural performances, ethnic food, retail vendors, and kid-friendly educational activities.
The 2018 event had well over 12,000 attendees from over 14 states within the U.S. as well as participants from the U.K. and Mexico. This year as per Eventbrite analytics, attendees came from 22 states and 7 countries including Canada, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Uganda and India.
Along the Hudson River, and with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, audiences took part in yoga demonstrations, henna tattooing, an interactive Rangoli demonstration, as well as dance and music workshops. The Yoga workshop was conducted by Mr. Luis Lujan. There took place a spectacular Colors Countdown every hour.
Festival partners included the Consulate General of India in NYC, Hudson County Office of Cultural Affairs and Tourism, as well as Jersey City Cultural Affairs.
Dignitaries attending the festival included NJ State Assemblyman Raj Mukherji; New York’s Consul General of India Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty; Jersey City Council President Mr. Roland Lavarro; sponsors Ruddys Andrade, Director of External Affairs, Carepoint Health; Ms.Gina Hulings, Director of Cultural Affairs, Hudson County; Ms.Tamara Cunningham, AVP for Global Initiatives – New Jersey City University, Mr.Mohan Kothekar, Area Sales Mgr of Air India, representing Air India in the US.
Assemblyman Raj Mukherji congratulated Surati for hosting Holi Hai “year after year”. Both sponsors Ruddys Andrade of Carepoint and Tamara Cunningham of NJCU acknowledged and commended Founder-Artistic Director Rimli Roy and Surati’s hard work and said they were “honored to be associated with Surati”.
Surati’s Holi Slogan was: “When everyone is colorful, no one is different.”
India Post News Service
