Brightly colored celebration

Organized by the nonprofit BayBasi, Inc. and the Parks and Recreation Department, Foster City Holi Festival has brought thousands of people each year to Leo Ryan Park since the tradition began in 2012.

Holi, also known as the ‘Festival of Colors,’ dates back to as early as the fourth century and commemorates the beginning of spring, the harvest and the triumph of good versus evil.

Rooted in Indian mythology, the festival also celebrates equality, said Raj Tiwari, a BayBasi board member. Tiwari said the colors, which people throw at each other during the festival, serve as a symbolic equalizer in the context of India’s caste system.

“The color means the caste doesn’t matter anymore because we’re all different colors,” he said.

Two Bay Area vendors Briyani Bowl and Wah Ji Wah will serve up food and drink from northern and southern India, including traditional tandoori chicken barbecue, as well as Chinese Indian fusion dishes.

Specialty drinks provided by the Foster City Rotary Club include the time-honored thandai, a cold, milk-based drink made with nuts, rosewater and saffron, the traditional yogurt-based lassi and Masala chai, as well as beer, wine and rum and coke.

The centerpiece of the event, the colors — which at this event are all dry and cornstarch-based — will be available for purchase in packages ranging from $3-$10. The idea is to throw the colored powder at your friends, dance to Bollywood music and enjoy traditional Indian fare, he said.

BayBasi also hosts an annual Durga Puja festival each fall in Foster City.

The free event will 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 10, at Leo Ryan Park Meadow in Foster City.

zachary@smdailyjournal.com

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