MANILA, PHILIPPINES, March 28, 2016 (The Standard): The Holi Festival, one of the happiest and most colorful festivals of Hindus, was recently celebrated at SM by the Bay Central Park with more than 2,500 people gathering for the auspicious event.
Ushering in the arrival of spring, the festival widely celebrated in India, Nepal and other Hindu countries, saw its fourth year of celebration in the Philippines organized by Asia Society and SM by the Bay in partnership with the Embassy of India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, Indian Ladies Club and SingIndia Music of the Soul.
Most of the population who joined the festivity are of Indian descent but there were a lot of Filipinos and other nationalities who embraced the celebration and took part in throwing colorful gulal powder at each other, singing and dancing with the crowd. More than just a Hindu celebration, the event turned into one multi-colored race united by love and friendship. “Today, we are not Filipino, Indian, American nor any other nationality,” Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Lalduhthlana Ralte addressed the crowd. “We are all global citizens,” he added, expressing hope that more people would participate in the years to come.