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Holi Celebrations Lined up in UAE

DUBAI - Indian expatriates are gearing up to celebrate Holi, the Indian festival of colours, due to start on March 13.

It is an occasion to rekindle bondage as Indians the world over go into a full festive mood.

This Holi, the Indian Association of Dubai, has lined up a long day of fun- filled activities at the Dubai Creek Park - Gate No. 1, near the amphitheatre area on Friday, March 13.

Admission to the event is against tickets priced at Dh25 for individuals and Dh50 for a family (1 couple and 2 children below 16 years of age).

Colours will also be on show at the Barracuda beach resort, Umm Al Quwain on the same day.

There will be a free bus shuttle organised from 9am to 11.30am from the Dubai Municipality main centre, Al Twar Centre in Al Ghusais and Sharjah City Center to the venue.

Along with performing DJ’s there will also be dance performances by 
young children. Organisers of the event told Khaleej Times, “We want the expatriates here to feel like they are back home just for this one day.”

Though the religious and mythical reasons for celebrating the festival are many, and varied to each Indian community, on this day people dress themselves in white and throw colours in every available form at each other. From powdered colour to long ‘pichkaris’ (water guns-filled with coloured water) people also add paint to filled water balloons to play with their family and friends.

Khaleej Times caught up with some long-time Holi celebrators here in the UAE. Naresh Kawatra who has been in the UAE for the last 17 years as a sales and marketing professional said, “I go to the grounds set up by the Indian Association and most of the time it feels like being in India.”

He said that the Government of UAE has been very kind by allowing Indian expatriates here to maintain 
their traditions.

Reema Batheja who has been here for the last 21 years said, “When I was small I would play inside the house. As I grew older, I began to go for more organised events like the ones in Creek Park 
and Barracuda.”

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com