On March 10 (Friday) evening, Nrityanjali Dance Academy Australia organized Nrityanjali Holi Festival at Lakemba Street, Sydney. Kirtans are organized during the Holi festival with the slogan ‘Lagilo Dol Jale Sthale’.
Dol Purnima or Holi festival is one of the religious festivals of Sanatana religionists. Dola Yatra is a Hindu Vaishnava festival. According to Vaishnava belief, on this day Lord Krishna played Abir with Radhika and her friends in Vrindavan. It is from that incident that the game of swing originated. For this reason, the idols of Radha-Krishna were painted and mounted on a swing and went out for nagara kirtan. At this time they enjoy playing with colors.
In many parts of the world, the festival is better known as Krishna’s Dola Yatra, but in places like West Bengal, Madras, Orissa in India, it is known as Dola Utsav and in North, West and Central India and Nepal as ‘Holi’.
Chutki and ghol jal are served as food along with chitai pitha during Holi festival. Other dinners included pumpkin hilsa fish bells, green gourd with prawns with coriander leaves, potato bharta, mula raw mango dal, chicken, tomato chutney, various sweets. The festival starts from 7:30 pm and lasts till late night. Hindus celebrate this festival by smearing each other with Abir.
Sydney expatriates from all walks of life along with Sydney community leaders participate in this Holi festival. Sydney expatriates participate in various cultural performances including dance and song. Moushumi Saha, leader of Nrityanjali Dance Academy Australia, said, ‘This country feels like our home. Here let us not forget our culture and celebrate this festival of Holi with love and laughter.’
