Storizen March 2018 Holi Special Issue Holi 2018 Special Issue | Page 14

STORIZEN CONTRIBUTE
HOW HOLI IS CELEBRATED
ACROSS THE OCEANS
by Shamlal Puri
Shamlal Puri is a
veteran international
award-winning
journalist, author,
broadcaster and
photographer who
has worked in Africa,
Asia, the Middle East
and Europe in a
career spanning 48
years. He is the
author of 16 books
and lives and works
in London.
I
   ndians living across the
world never forget to
celebrate their festivals. Be it
Diwali, Gupurab or Holi, we
celebrate it with full energy
and a splash of colours of the
rainbow.
Holi is a spring festival
celebrated by Hindus, as a
festival of colours.  Over the
years, this day festival has
become an importantfixture
in many regions wherever
Indian diaspora had found its
roots, be it in Africa,
11     |    STORIZEN MAGAZINE
North America, Europe or
closer to home in South Asia.
Every year, thousands of
Hindus participate in the
festival Holi. It has many
purposes.
First and foremost, it
celebrates the beginning of
the new season, spring and
its importance also lie in
Hindu mythology.
I have lived a significant part
of my life in several parts of
the world 
– Africa, Middle East, Europe
and the USA where Holi is
celebrated and in my
journalism career while
assignments abroad found
myself enjoying the event in
Together, the entire Asian
community showed such
love and friendship
despite their religious
backgrounds, and we all
often joined to celebrate
each other’s festivals in
their respective places of
worship.