There was music, dancing, culture, and plenty of colour at Victoria Park. The ancient Hindu festival of Holi kicked off festival season in London, Ont. on Saturday. “The festival of colours celebrates the coming of spring, blooming of colours in nature and us being in sync with nature,” said Vinod Varapravan, an organizer with Srishti Canada. “It’s getting rid of all the negativities and thinking of positive ideas for the year ahead as well as hope for everybody.” This is the 14th year for the family-friendly event, which welcomed everyone to the park. They are the first of many festivals in the Forest City this year. “It’s an honour for us to be the first to do that,” added Varapravan. “The festival actually falls in March, but due to the weather conditions, we have had to push it down to April.” The idea of the event is to celebrate joy, movement, food, laughter, and togetherness. “The main theme is that unity in diversity,” said Varapravan. “Beneath all of these colors that we are all one family and that we are one world.”
