FREMONT: A colorful and atmospheric Holi, the Festival of Colors, was held at the Hindu Temple & Community Center in Sunnyvale, California on March 21 and 22. Popularly celebrated by all Indians, Holi is a spring festival with two main parts. The first day's major event is the lighting of ritual bonfires at night. This represents the burning of the demoness Holika, who as Hiranyakashyap's sister tried to immolate Prahlad, a devotee of Vishnu.

This symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The second day is what gives Holi its fun, colorful and festive air. People get together to throw 'gulal' or dry colors on each other.At the Sunnyvale Temple, the Holika Dahan, the burning of Holika, was on Friday evening, March 21, with over 1500 people present. Garba was also played that day. Saturday, March 22, was the scene of one of the America's biggest Holi celebrations with around 6500 people participating.The air was colorful with the gulal thrown around and on people.

Children especially watched the fantastic spectacle wide-eyed. For many, it was their first experience of the festive mood that is all pervasive on Holi, as much as the gulal and the Amitabh Bachchan song, Rang Barse. Along with Raj Bhanot and Naranji Patel, there were other temple dignitaries and devotees all mixed in the crowd. Dave Cortese, candidate for Supervisor as well as Otto Lee, Sunnyvale Councilmember, also attended. With an aarti, followed by lunch, people were ready for the second round of the evening- the cultural program.

Little kids performed miraculous acts of coordination to keep the audience engrossed as the two day festival drew to a close. However, if you missed it this time, worry not- it will be back next year on a Pooranmashi or full moon night in March/ April.