Phagwah Parade to Bring Spring Colors and Joy to Richmond Hill on Sunday

Don’t bring a black-and-white camera. This Sunday, the 26th Annual Phagwah-Holi Parade will fill the streets of Richmond Hill with color, music and glee. If the weather is good, at least 50,000 revelers will celebrate this Indo-Caribbean-Hindu religious holiday by singing, riding floats and throwing powder, perfume and water at each other in a good-natured fashion. (One popular red dye, called “abeer,” symbolizes the blood of tyrannical King Kiranya, who was burnt alive by his son to avenge the suffering he had inflicted on his people.) The parade formation will begin at around 10 am in the vicinity of Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street. Participants will then proceed to 125th Street and head to Smokey Oval Park at 92nd Avenue, where music and cultural performances will take place until about 6 pm.

Details: Phagwah Parade, Liberty Avenue, starting at 133rd Street, Richmond Hill, March 16th, 10 am to 6 pm, free.

Photos: Courtesy of Let’s Talk with Lakshmee