Article by Annika Villarroel
Photos by Jemina Mission
Ever find yourself wondering where you can get those Instagram-worthy shots complete with pristine white t-shirts stained in rainbows of colorful powder? Or even those wide air shots that, to be honest…reminds you of melted skittles?
Does it look a little something like this?
Well, look no further than one of the liveliest cultural events in the metro, the annual Holi Festival! The Philippines is filled to the brim with diverse cultures, and with this year’s celebration held at North Fountain, SM By the Bay, Filipinos were more than eager to take part in this Hindu festival that celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
Hosted by Karla Habaluyas and Roshan Daryani, they kicked of the event with a brief history about the Holi Festival’s origins and then hyped the audience up with a countdown of the highlight of the day—the throwing of the colorful powder!
3….2……1…..HAPPY HOLI!
Just look at the aftermath of their faces smeared in the colourful powder!
Of course, no Holi festival is complete without dancing! Together with the locals, Naachography, and Movement Dance Studio, they all showcased their cool moves to the beat of bhangra x desi music on the massive stage!
There were even Rangoli making and henna tattoo booths present during the event!
Sadly I wasn’t able to get photos of the wide array of Indian food booths that were present, but I do have a photo of the line to attest to how much people lined up to get a taste of the delicious dishes!
Not only do you get to take home some great photos of you and your friends, but you get to participate in a culture that’s totally different from your own! Just imagine that bright and color-filled group photo with (hopefully) strangers-that-turn-into friends that you’ll remember for years and years to come!
Be sure not to miss out next year! Tag who you’d want to bring with you in the comments below!
