Holi Mahotsav 2010 - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Australia

Sunday, March 14 was a long day of cultural
extravaganza with all sorts of dances from India and
other cultures, musical bands, fashion show. Nearly
two hundred artists joined in presenting this marvel.
And of course the special attraction was of playing
with colours—for everyone who wished to participate.
Boys and girls with colour smeared faces and clothes
enthusiastically wished a Happy Holi to everyone and
looked forward to a colourful and bright new year.
With chaos, laughter and thrill, it was interesting
to see everyone enjoying and throwing colours in
the designated area, whilst the rest looked on with
delight, and perhaps even envy. Over the weekend, the
grand festival attracted tens of thousands of visitors
who absorbed themselves in the colourful fusion of
Indian music, dance, food and exhibitions. Some of
the most respected dignitaries also joined on Sunday.
The dignitaries were welcomed with the Aboriginal
Smoke Ceremony performed by Marx Harrison, an
Elder from the Aboriginal Community. The ceremony
symbolizes purification and blessings.
Looking at the success of the festival for the 8th year,
Gambhir Watts, President, Bhavan Australia, said,
“we are indeed immensely grateful to all those who
have travelled with us in past seven years in turning
Holi Mahotsav, an Indian festival of harmony and
friendship, into mainstream grand Australian festival
of harmony today. Australian community has made
Holi part of our evolving
cultural calendar. Our special
thanks are due to Sydney
Harbour Foreshore Authority,
India Tourism Sydney, City
of Sydney and ISKCON Sydney who agreed to and
encouraged our plans for Holi Mahotsav in 2003 and
have remained with us since then. The Premier of
New South Wales has been supporting Holi Mahotsav
since 2005 with grants from the Community Relations
Commission for a Multicultural NSW. We are grateful
to City of Sydney and City Central Command of
NSW Police who have greatly supported our Street
Procession / Rath Yatra every year since 2005. Our
sincere thanks and gratitude are due to them.”
He continued, “This year Lebara Mobile have joined
us a major sponsor. We express our heartfelt gratitude
to Lebara Mobile and other sponsors: Incredible
India, State Bank of India-Sydney, Vision Asia
and The Indian Link. We are grateful to our media
supporters The Indian, Indus Age, The Indian Down
Under, Punjab Times, who joined us in making this
2010 festival even brighter and diverse.”
Holi Mahotsav 2010 VIP session was graced by:
HE Sujatha Singh, High Commissioner of India;
HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja, Governing Body
Commissioner of ISKCON; Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP,
Parliamentary Secretary, representing Prime Minister;