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Color and joy mark Holi revelers in Medan
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Colors of love: Hindu revelers covered in all colors of the rainbow pose for a group photograph on Mar. 4 in Medan, North Sumatra, after celebrating Holi, or "the festival of colors". (JP/Nurni Sulaiman)
D
ozens of Indian nationals and people of Indian descent in Medan, North Sumatra, on Sunday celebrated Holi, or the Hindu "festival of colors", which marks the arrival of spring.
Held at the Indian Consulate General in Medan, the festival celebrates fertility and love, and also marks the triumph of good over evil.
The revelers threw colorful powders on each other, leaving them coated in color for the day. The festivalgoers also enjoyed Indian foods and song and dance performances at the event, which was organized by the Indonesia Expatriates Association Medan (IEAM).
“I’m really happy that I could join this celebration, where I could meet many friends. Everybody was happy with the colors. Everybody shared their happiness here,” Ranggini Triyono, an Indian Malaysian, told The Jakarta Post.
Hindu Indians celebrate Holi at the beginning of spring, which is expected to bring fertile soil and good crops. Hindus believe that spring is the time to enjoy a variety of colors that reflect joy and hope. The celebration also marks hopes for a smooth year ahead.
IEAM president Ashish Sharma said Holi was celebrated by Indian and Hindu people in countries across the world. Festivalgoers expressed their happiness by throwing colorful powder and water balloons at each other.
“We want to convey our thanks to the Indian Consulate General, which has given us the space to organize the festival, as well as all IEAM members who have supported this event. We also thank all Medan residents,” said Ashish. (ebf)
