According to Hindu tradition, the Holi festival ushers in the season of abundance. A big, flamboyant fiesta at SM by the Bay was held on Mar 10 in honor of the occasion. The festival was full of fun and frolic, and the Manila crowd very much enjoyed. To say that the event was a success is a huge understatement.
Want to know the best things about the celebration? Here are five.
1. #holimnl2016 turned strangers into friends.
It was simply impossible not to feel good about the crowds of people daubed in beautiful colors all gathered together to have good, clean fun. The celebration was full of positive energy. Upon entering the venue, there were volunteers who playfully welcomed participants with a dab/slap of color. People were smiling and laughing as they celebrated. There were friendly color-fights, and everyone was posing for pictures with “strangers”. The festival indeed knows no distinction. Everyone (with a ticket) was welcomed with open arms, no exception.
2. There was Bollywood partying and a good dose of Indian culture.
The Manila leg won’t compare to the celebrations in India, but it was a chance for our Indian brothers and sisters to experience home away from home.
There were booths of authentic Indian street food (yay samosas and tandoori chicken!) and little pop-up shops selling Indian trinkets. Traditional Indian art like Rangoli making for kids and kids-at-heart was practiced as well. Participants enjoyed showcasing their Indian hennas on social media. The intricate designs were badges of honor for people who took part in the special event.
The beat of the Indian music playing in the background was perfect for Bollywood-style partying. At one point, people were even asked to get off the stage because there were simply too many of them.
3. We loved all the color.
The most dominant colors in the party? The colors of fun and happiness, of course!
Participants were advised to sport white clothing, but by the end of night, everyone was covered in color! The place was awashed with the blue, green, pink, yellow and other color combinations. Participants were all given packets of gulal upon entering, and they were all used bountifully to make the event much more fun. There were also hourly countdowns to throw gulal up in the air. The best part? The powder used was safe and non-toxic. Even children and babies had the chance to enjoy the colorful event!
4. The Manila Bay area was the perfect spot for the party!
There was something special about seeing all the colors set against the background of the beautiful Manila sunset. The photos were beautiful, thanks to perfect lighting and timing. No filter was necessary for to make the scenes Instagram-ready. The venue was the perfect spot for the celebration.
5. It got spiritual too.
Let us not forget that behind the flamboyant festival is a deeply spiritual tradition. This one hits close to home since all Filipino fiestas can be traced to religous beliefs. After all the partying, people should feel positive and refreshed. There was an invitation to “burn all sufferings and sorrows” at the end of the night. Now who wouldn’t want to experience something as energizing as that?
