Celebrate Holi in NYC

The jubilant S. Asian Festival of Colors is coming up on March 14. Join a community celebration!

As the jubilant Hindu festival of Holi arrives, we are thrilled to discuss the holiday with Anu Sehgal, Founder and President of The Culture Tree which produces Holi celebrations across NYC.

What is Holi?

Holi is a Hindu festival that takes place every spring. It's all about new beginnings – welcoming the spring season and celebrating the end of winter. Holi is the most fun and colorful festival and is now celebrated all over the world. It is a celebration life!

The festival falls on a full moon and is celebrated for two days. The day before the full moon is Holika Dahan. On this day, bonfires are lit for prayers and symbolize cleansing and starting afresh. The day of the full moon is the main Holi holiday, when friends and families meet, play with colors, and eat delicious food while they dance to popular Holi beats played by a drummer called a dholi.

What do your kids love about Holi?

My kids love playing with colors and celebrating their heritage. They also love the quintessential drink of Holi called thandai, which is like a spiced milkshake.

Holi is the theme of your debut children's book. Can you tell us more about your book and its inspiration?

As a language teacher and cultural educator, I read numerous books personally, as well as to my students. I am always in search of new content that is fun, educational, and meaningful. Kahaani Rangeeli or “Colorful Story” combines two passions of mine—language and culture. It is written in Hindi language, and is a beautiful story of Krishna, one of the most beloved Hindu Gods, and his friends. The book honors love and friendship above all else. It celebrates an ancient Indian story, while also sharing how we can celebrate Holi. Through this book, which brings Krishna and the colorful festival of Holi to life, kids and their families will learn the importance of friendship and love. They also learn that friendship has no boundaries and has to be nurtured.

You produce several Holi events around NYC every year. What is your goal when offering these events to the public?

Educating children and their families about South Asia helps remove South Asian prejudices and stereotypes. Children are highly impressionable and open-minded, so it is critical to expose them to new languages and cultures early on in their lives. I believe that when children learn about another culture, they are more knowledgeable, well-rounded, and empathetic — thereby true global citizens.

Celebrate Holi at these local events:

* Produced by The Culture Tree

Saturday March 8

10am-3pm Holi at Akṣarā Studio in UWS (ages 3-8)
12pm Holi Party Dilli Style - Dilli Dilli in Midtown* (sold out)

Sunday, March 9

10am-3pm Holi at Akṣarā Studio in UWS (ages 3-8)
2-4pm: Holi Celebration at Children's Museum of Manhattan in UWS (ages 2-10)*

Thursday, March 13

4-5pm: Holi Celebration at NYPL with The Culture Tree at 53rd St Library*

Friday, March 14

11:15am-4:15pm: Holi Celebration at Children's Museum of Manhattan in UWS (ages 2-10)
4-5pm: Holi Art Party at NYPL's Seward Park Library (ages 13-18)

Saturday, March 15

11am-2pm: Holi Celebration at the Seaport in FiDi*
11am-11:45am: Holi Literary Festival at South Street Seaport Museum

Sunday, March 16

11am-7pm: Holi Hai: NYC's Biggest Festival of Colors at 3DB Yard in Williamsburg

Saturday, March 22

2:15pm: Holi Phagwa Festival at Flushing Town Hall in Queens
2-8pm: Holi by the River at Cobble Fish on Pier 16

Saturday, March 29

2-8pm: Holi by the River at Cobble Fish on Pier 16

Sunday April 6

1-2:30pm: BKCM Celebrates Holi at Prospect Park (rescheduled due to rain)
1-4pm: Holi On The Hudson in Riverside Park in UWS

Saturday, April 26

10am Kid's Holi - Aarti and Celebration at Ganesh Temple in SOHO*

Saturday, May 3

10am-7pm: Celebrate Holi at Brooklyn Children's Museum in Crown Heights*

Saturday, May 10

1-2pm: AAPI Month celebration with Ajna Dance Company at BPL's Central Library

Happy Holi!

Anu Sehgal is the founder of The Culture Tree, a cultural literacy and language education program. She lives in New York with her husband and her two sons. She is a marketer by profession, holds an MBA from Yale University, and has worked in the corporate sector for almost 15 years. Anu believes awareness of one’s heritage, culture, and language is key for children to become self-aware and confident individuals.

The Culture Tree promotes cultural literacy about South Asia through language and educational & cultural programs. Our goal is to create empathy, respect and understanding towards all different cultures and further inclusivity, while still helping address questions about Identity with heritage cultures.