People gathered on a warm Saturday in Irvine’s Mike Ward Community Park to celebrate the Indian Spring Festival.
The event celebrated seven Indian festivals: Holi, Baisakhi (also pronounced Vaisakhi), Bihu, Vishu, Poila Boishak, Ugadi and Puthandu.
Hosted by Irvine and Councilmember Mike Carroll, and organized by a variety of local groups, the festival featured traditional dancers, music and vegetarian dishes from different regions. There was also the throwing of colorful powered paint, which marks the beginning of spring and celebrates good over evil.
Gaurav Bhargava, president of the United American Indian Association, noted Irvine hosting the festival was significant since the city is home to an Indian population of about 9,000 people.
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