ST LOUIS: It was another major celebration in the compound of Hindu Temple and Mahatma Gandhi Center on March 7 that Bal Vihar children eagerly await – celebration of Holi, the festival of color.
Bal Vihar joined hands with the Hindu temple to extend the festivities with larger community around greater St. Louis. This attracted over 300 Holi revelers with colors in their hands.
Bal Vihar families used this opportunity to mingle with others to socialize and share the joy and spirit that the occasion offers. Being so far away from the origins of their culture and having grown up in a very different setup, Bal Vihar students form part of the next generation that is keeping the culture and spirit alive while improvising it in their own way.
As with every year, children rush through their food and line up to get their hands on the colors. They start thinking about how they are going to throw colors at all their friends and other elders while trying to stay clean themselves.
As soon as the first set of packets opened, the colored dust started filling the atmosphere. One could see the enthusiasm in the environment as children were running around throwing colors at their parents, friends and anyone they knew. Adults could be seen applying colors to the faces and greeting each other. Within half an hour, most of them were covered in multiple colors from head to toe.
Center for Indian Cultural Education – Bal Vihar of St. Louis, since its inception in 1992 has been serving the Metro St. Louis Indian community. As Bal Vihar nears completing 22 successful years, its popularity has grown with over 370 students now attending classes every other Sunday. Classes are focused on overall development that includes Bhajan, Yoga and regular curriculum that includes teachings on India, its states, history, culture, neighbors etc.
The primary focus of this organization is to provide Indian cultural education to students age 5-18, its application and integration with the global multicultural and multifaceted society.
Raj Iyer & Ashwin Patel
