Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar from New York is embarking on a citywide Holi tour to commemorate the arrival of spring and celebrate the vibrant festival of colors, which holds significance for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains alike. The tour will feature her participation in various lively Holi events across New York City.
The festivities kick off on Sunday, March 24, at 11:30 am with a Holi celebration hosted by The Culture Tree at the Seaport in Manhattan, as announced in a media release from Rajkumar’s office. Later that same day at 2:00 pm, she will be the Guest of Honor at the India Association of Long Island Holi celebration held at the Asa’Mai Hindu Temple in Hicksville.
On Sunday, March 31, Rajkumar will join the Holi celebration at the Vishnu Mandir Temple in the Bronx at 1:00 pm. The highlight of the tour is her participation in the 36th Annual Phagwah Parade on Sunday, April 7, at 2:00 pm in Phil Rizzuto Park in Richmond Hill, where she will deliver remarks. This parade, a beloved event in New York’s Little Guyana, is one of the largest Holi celebrations in North America.
Organized by the Federation of Hindu Mandirs, Inc. and Arya Spiritual Center, Inc., the parade attracts thousands of attendees annually. Rajkumar previously served as Grand Marshal of the parade. Additionally, she will be part of the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean Bar Association of Queens Holi celebration on Thursday, April 18, at 7:00 pm at the Flamingo Restaurant and Mantra Lounge in South Ozone Park.
The journey wraps up on Staten Island with the Holi Festival at the Esplanade on Sunday, April 28th, starting at noon. Rajkumar expressed her excitement for the festivities, emphasizing the significance of Holi as a celebration of New York’s diversity and the vibrancy of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jain communities. She looks forward to participating in the tradition of throwing and receiving colors as a symbol of enduring love and affection.
