Holi Festival Brings Vibrance to the Northwest Arkansas Community
The Indian Cultural Association of NWA invites the public to join in celebration at the Momentary
Colors, cuisine and community will be at the center of Northwest Arkansas’ celebration of Holi, a Hindu Spring festival, at the Momentary on April 8, 2023, from 12 – 3 p.m. Presented in partnership with the Indian Cultural Association of NWA (ICANWA), families across the region are invited to join for a day full of festivities and an exchange of cultures.
Holi is an ancient Hindu tradition celebrating the welcoming of Spring, also known as the Festival of Colors. Holi is celebrated annually on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month, falling on March 8 this year. Vibrant, natural powder dyes will be tossed in the air, covering all in attendance with a bright coat of color.
“Festival of colors-Holi has been celebrated in India for thousands of years and has become associated with fun and frolic,” ICANWA Vice President Ravikanth Krovvidi said, “It celebrates the onset of spring after the completion of winter, and the natural colors sprinkled on each other signify the change in the hues of nature around us. It is a celebration of the vibrancy of life.”
The family-oriented community experience will offer cuisine from community food vendors, along with the Momentary’s Food Truck and RØDE House bar. The festival will have fun for guests of all ages, from dancing and drinking to music and colors.
“We are beyond excited to partner with ICANWA to host this year’s Holi Festival with ICANWA at the Momentary! I’ve learned a lot about the Festival of Colors from our partners while planning this year’s event, but have never participated in the festival before,” Katie Robertson, Curator of Food and Community at the Momentary, said. “There are many residents of our region who already celebrate Holi and we’re looking forward to welcoming folks both familiar with and new to this important cultural event and share in the celebration as a community.”
The Holi Festival is organized by ICANWA and hosted by the Momentary, a community collaborator. The event is free and open to the public, with colored pigments and food available for purchase. The Holi Festival will take place at the Momentary on April 8, 2023, from 12 – 3 p.m. Learn more here.
Photos of previous Holi events may be accessed here.
About Indian Cultural Association of NWA
ICANWA is a not-for-profit organization under 501(c) 3 with the goal to serve and develop the cultural, social and charitable needs of our community in Northwest Arkansas. Ever since its incorporation, ICANWA has been hosting several events throughout the years including Holi- The festival of colors, India’s Independence Day, Diwali – The festival of lights, Consular Camps, Blood drives, and many regional festivities. ICANWA has a strong commitment to the community which is reflected in the variety of projects that it has undertaken, such as organizing the Diwali Mela and contributing to many non-profit organizations including local charities. ICANWA is dedicated to serving the needs of our Northwest Arkansas community.
About the Momentary
Opened in February of 2020, the Momentary is a contemporary art space in downtown Bentonville, Arkansas, for visual, performing, and culinary arts. The mission of the Momentary is to champion contemporary art’s role in everyday life and explore the unfolding story of contemporary American arts in an international context by actively commissioning and exhibiting outstanding works that explore new ideas and inspire action. The Momentary was founded by the Walton family, based on the vision of Tom, Olivia, and Steuart Walton. The Walton Family Foundation is supporting this project as a way to enhance the quality of life in Northwest Arkansas. The Momentary is a satellite to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, founded by Alice Walton. The Momentary welcomes all with free general admission. Additional offerings include an artist-in-residence program, culinary experiences including an Onyx Coffee Lab and the sky-high Tower Bar, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, an outdoor festival space, and a gift store. For more information, visit theMomentary.org. The Momentary is located at 507 SE E Street, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712. The Momentary’s Founding Funders are Walton Family Foundation, Walmart, RØDE Microphones, The Coca-Cola Company, Tyson Family Foundation, and Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation.
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