A large bonfire lit up the sky in Lackawanna County on Sunday as the sun went down and the full moon rose.
Holi was celebrated at the Dunmore Community Center. The ancient Hindu festival marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
"You ... forget all your ... grudges from the past and you all become friends," said Rajiv Bansal of Dunmore.
Large trays full of colored powder sat on a plastic table. The fire died down in the background as people of all ages — mostly children — put handprints of color on each other’s faces. They threw the powder in the air and at each other, creating a pinkish haze. A feast was held inside.
The festival of colors starts with the full moon and lasts the entire day. The date it’s held depends on the lunar cycle, but it’s typically celebrated in March. The colors also, in-part, celebrate the god Krishna, who was cursed with blue skin.
It’s also a day to forgive and forget.
“Today's a special day for Holi in India and all over the world," said Al Patel, president of the Indo American Community of Scranton. The group held the celebration.
Holi’s roots are in Hindu mythology. People sing, dance and pray around a bonfire. The evening ritual — called Holika Dahan — re-enacts the demise of a Hindu mythical demoness, Holika.
