Hindus Celebrate Holi Festival

March 4, 2009

Author: George Hamilton

Source: Oxford Mail

http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4202037.Hindus_celebrate_Holi_festival/

Oxfordshire's Hindu community has organised a Holi Festival celebration in the county for the first time.

Up to 100 people are expected at the Lake Street Community Centre in South Oxford for the festival — one of the main events in the religion’s calendar.

In the past, the county’s Hindus have had to travel to cities including London and Birmingham where there are Hindu temples.

Today, families will make their way to the community centre to mark the festival, which represents the coming of spring and the triumph of good over evil.

Kashmira Patel, a member of the Oxford Hindu Temple & Community Centre Project, said: “This is the first event of its kind in Oxfordshire. They do celebrate it in all the major cities where they have temples and community centres.

“We felt we needed to bring it to Oxfordshire, otherwise people would go to London or Birmingham to celebrate it.

“We want Oxfordshire Hindus to feel there is a place in the county for them to celebrate such festivals.”