A celebration of color and love, in one of the most beautiful parks in France, is an electrifying experience
Our Bureau
Paris
The festival of colors, Holi is a special celebration not just in India but the Indian diaspora in other parts of the world also rejoices with the same enthusiasm. In France, it is celebrated with great fervor in the month of May because the climate is more favorable. It is organized as a big event in Le Jardin d’Acclimatation, a beautiful park in Paris.
Mehen Poinoosawmy of the Global Indian Organisation (GIO) and Anwar Hussain of the Bollywood Maharaja group has been organizing this Holi celebration with the support of the Indian embassy since 2017. This annual celebration has become an integral part of the calendar of festivals in France, thanks to Mr. Marc Antoine Jamet. This French celebration of Holi is even promoted by the tourism office of Paris. This global festival is celebrated not just by Indians but by people of diverse nationalities. This unique event is a celebration of diverse friendships and is an ideal way to transfer traditional Indian cultural values to the young generation of Indians, helping them to stay connected to their cultural roots
The festival of colors highlights the cultural heritage of India, promoting its universal values. As said by His Excellency Shri Vishal Sharma, Ambassador and permanent delegation of India to UNESCO, Holi, in general, helps intercultural understanding and encourages respect for other ways of life. It is a festival of love, promoting brotherhood, social harmony, and a sense of oneness with people of different faiths.
The program was rich and diverse, celebrating different cultures and traditions of India for a whole day. It displayed different music, and dance styles of Indian states like Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, Garba, Lavanya, Bhangra, and Kachhi Ghodi. Many Food Trucks and restaurants offered tasty and delicious Indian cuisines, famous for their flavors and culinary traditions. Other highlights were a display of Ayurveda, Yoga meditation, and Heine Tattoos, much to the excitement of the audience.
Dancers and live musicians made the colorful parade show of Radha Krishna an unforgettable experience for the audience. His Excellency Ambassador of India in France Shri Jawed Ashraf mentioned that Holi “is an electrifying event, a celebration of color and love. Such a huge event is hard to see anywhere in the world. Holi is celebrated in this fashion, in one of the most beautiful parks of France, Jardin d’Accimatation is unique. Holi unites everybody with a sense of joy.”
The love of India’s cultural heritage attracted 30,000 participants to the event for a perfect combination of arts, cuisine, music, dances, and values. Mehen Poinoosawmy, Anwar Hussain, Marc Antoine Jamet, President of Jardin d’Acclimation plans to come back next year for making a bridge between India and France with the joy of colors.
