Longtime associates Dipika Subramaniam and Afreen Hameed attended highschool in India.
On Saturday, they have been among the many attendees at Penn Museum there to embrace the approaching of spring by observing the Hindu vacation Holi. The museum collaborated with the College of Pennsylvania’s South Asia Heart and the Three Aksha Dance Firm to host occasions and distributors for CultureFest! Holi.
The chums have been thrilled to have a good time Holi in Philly. Each felt “at residence” watching the dance performances and collaborating within the conventional (and enjoyable) shade throw, smearing orange powder on bypassers.
Holi marks the top of winter and the start of spring on the Hindu calendar. The vacation additionally celebrates the triumph of fine over evil and the fantastic thing about love.
CultureFest! Holi supplied reside performances that served as each celebration and training. The dance workshop allowed guests to observe younger dancers carry out routines, then study just a few strikes from the trainer.
“Neighborhood is difficult generally, so it’s good to have one thing the place you don’t discuss to anyone,” stated Subramaniam, who practices Hinduism. “You simply do.”
The Three Aksha Dance Firm additionally offered UTSAV, a sequence of performances to have a good time the approaching of spring. Between dance numbers, inventive director Viji Rao educated the viewers on the classical Indian dance kind Bharatanatyam and inspired them to comply with her hand gestures. Rao additionally recounted tales from Hindu mythology associated to every dance, in addition to Holi’s teachings and festivities.
Holi is often known as the Hindu Competition of Colours as a result of celebrants put on white and mark themselves and others with bright-colored powders. Company have been very enthusiastic concerning the shade throw and began it a couple of minutes sooner than deliberate. Strangers, household and associates supplied one another scoops of coloured powder to throw within the air or adorned one another with it in the course of the festivities’ finale.
Subramaniam and Hameed, the 2 associates, appreciated the collaboration between the Penn Museum, the South Asia Heart and the Three Aksha Dance Firm.
“This can be a celebration the place you don’t should be invited and simply go,” stated Subramaniam. “It’s meant for everyone, so all the time invite your self.”