The Shree Pretoria Hindu Seva Samaj (SPHSS) celebrated the colourful festival of Holi, last Thursday evening (March 17), with about 150 attendees.
Nayanta Naran of the Samaj told the Laudium Sun, “Young and old attended the festival. Sunilbhai Bhatt, our resident priest, conducted the Holi puja. Members of the community then took part in the puja by lighting diyas, offering popcorn and coconut in the fire, thereafter walking around the bonfire with a loto filled with water. There was a positive energy amongst the devotees. The atmosphere was spiritually charged, calm, vibrant and peaceful. Devotees also attended the arti in the mandir.”
The Holi festival is celebrated by Hindus around the world on the day of Purnima (the full moon) in the month of Falgun, over two consecutive days – the first day of Holi is known as Holika Dahan and the second as Dhuleti. It is also known as the ‘Festival of Colours.’ Observed for centuries, the festival is a jubilant occasion that sees Hindus create bonfires and cover each other in rainbow-hued powder to commemorate the beginning of spring (India). Holi also celebrates fertility, colour, love and the triumph of good over evil. Pictured: Ankita Patel, Roshni Patel and Payal Sutriya of Laudium, participated in the Holi festival at the SPHSS in Laudium.
