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Holi Festival March 18 2022

Orangeville’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI) is supporting the area’s first Holi Festival of Colours celebration, set for March 18, 2022 beginning at 9 a.m. In collaboration with members from the South Asian community in Orangeville, the EDI Committee has provided guidance recognizing this celebration locally.

Holi, also known as the festival of colours, has a cultural significance among various Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, to end conflicts by meeting others, and a day to forget and forgive. It is symbolic of the victory of good over evil, and it’s a celebration with every colour of the rainbow.

Activities kick off with the official proclamation by Mayor Sandy Brown on March 18 at 9 a.m., in front of Town Hall. This is followed by a YouTube celebration, highlighting a variety of ways people recognize Holi.

Elementary school students will drop off ‘Friendship Rocks’ at the Town Hall circle on March 17 from 12-3 p.m. The Friendship Rocks will be displayed in the atrium of Town Hall from March 18-31.

The Orangeville Public Library at 1 Mill Street will feature a guest reader on March 18 highlighting the message of Holi.

Members of the business community and Orangeville residents are encouraged to display colours recognizing the Holi Festival of Colours.

“In collaboration with our South Asian community, I am thrilled to bring the Holi Festival to Orangeville,” said Orangeville Councillor Joe Andrews, Chair of the Holi Festival working group and co-chair of the EDI Committee.   “In these times, we all need a way to embrace the changing of the season and the opportunity to be kind to each other through the celebration of colour.”

Councillor Lisa Post, co-chair of the EDI Committee, said she’s thrilled they could partner with community members to bring this event to life. “Celebrating our diversity through events like this brings us closer together and creates a space for learning and respect for our cultural differences.” 

For more information on the Holi Festival, please contact one of the organizers: Simran Bhamu at  [email protected], Sushil Shundil at [email protected] or Joe Andrews at [email protected].