Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust celebrated Holi - the festival of colours with utmost joy and enthusiasm in Auckland and Queenstown.
The Auckland event was held on Saturday, March 27, at Roskill War Memorial, May Road, where the senior members of the Charitable Trust played Holi with flowers.
“Our senior members cherished the idea of safe Holi with flowers,” Jeet Sachdev, Bhartiya Samaj Chair, said.
“We thought to do something different this year along with usual play with dry colours. So we got flowers to be showered upon every member while they were dancing their hearts out to popular music,” Jeet Sachdev said.
The day-long festivities involved playing with colours, dancing on musical numbers and enjoying special Indian delicacies.
The next day of Holi celebrations (Sunday, March 28) at Bhartiya Samaj was reserved for the Queenstown branch, where members of the Trust gathered together outside in a park attracting several curious onlookers.
“The air was filled with blues and greens, reds and yellows, and several colourful faces moving around in the picturesque city of Queenstown,” Mr Sachdev said.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 500 people of all ages and cultures to enjoy the playful spray of colours. Among others, Southland MP Joseph Mooney also attended the event and played Holi with everyone.
“Our senior members and other guests absolutely loved the festival of colours, which was also accompanied with music, dance and food,” Mr Sachdev said.
“Both the celebrations were unique in their own way. It is also an occasion for self-reflection, renewing bonds and celebrating life,” Mr Sachdev said.
The Queenstown event was organised in collaboration with Bhartiya Samaj Auckland, Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust, Indian weekender and Radio Tarana and support from Queenstown District Council and SK Finance.