Prepare for Color Throwing & Join us for Holi on June 26

Join the Summit Area YMCA on Saturday, June 26 from 9:00-11:00 AM to celebrate Holi at the Summit Village Green! White attire recommended!

FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• Throwing Gulal Colored Powder*
• Yoga
• Music
• Dance Activities
• Tie-Dyeing T-Shirts
• Live Rangoli
• Authentic Indian Cuisine

Pre-registration requested.

REGISTER

*Non-toxic organic colors will be available for purchase on the day of the event at the Summit Village Green. Gulal color powder is made from corn starch/rice flour, food grade color and are eco-friendly and biodegradable. 

Holi is a traditional Indian festival that signifies the victory of good over evil and beauty of spring! Everyone is encouraged to participate in this free, fun and joyous outdoor color throwing festival with music, dancing, delicious food and more! During the Holi Festival, festival goers are encouraged to throw organic powdered colors at each other to honor the legend of Krishna whose skin was dark blue. Krishna played a prank on Radha, whose complexion was fair, with color to make her similar to his own dark blue skin. This prank and gesture has since been adopted as a festival activity for all to enjoy the mischievousness and playful nature of Krishna. The powder is also symbolic of the colors within Indian culture; red for love and fertility, blue for Krishna, yellow for turmeric (auspicious and sacred in Indian culture, used in cooking and medicines) and green for spring and new beginnings.

9 tips on how to get ready for holi!

 
1. Apply proper layer of cream or oil on the body, your hair, your face, your arms and legs. If you do, you’ll have a better chance of washing the color off at the end of the day. Coconut or almond oil are recommended - so pack some to take with you.

2. If you have light colored hair and you don't want it to get stained with color, cover your head. Either tie your hair up and wrap a scarf around your head OR wear a shower cap - a Louvelle Shower Turban is a stylish alternative that really works! Or, just embrace your inner unicorn or mermaid and love your new multi-colored hair for the next few months :)

3. Wear clothes you don’t mind disposing of, but the best would be to wear cheap white clothes. What better to be a blank canvas for all that color? You are going to get color everywhere and all over yourself, so don’t wear anything expensive or fancy. Also, bring replacement clothes to change out of if you plan on going somewhere other than home afterwards.

4. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. If you wear prescription lenses, those will get colored too so wrap them in plastic or, better still, bring an old pair you no longer need or love.

5. Wear ear plugs – it will help keep any Holi color powder out of your ears! If it takes months to get color out of your hair, imagine how long it takes to get it out of the crevasses in your ears?

6. If you bring a camera or your phone, wrap it in plastic wrap to protect your lens. You don’t want color powder clouding your lens or expensive gadgets months after the event!

 
7. Bring towels, wet wipes and a spray bottle of water to wipe yourself down to help you clean up afterwards if you aren’t heading home right away (but you really should).

8. Bring garbage bags to cover up your car seats as a cheap, convenient way to help protect your car. The last thing you want is to go to work or school the next day, just to get your clean clothes covered in color powder on your backside!

9. Bring a cheap clear bag for your phone/wallet etc. to put around your waist or on a lanyard around your neck. Forget bringing your beloved purses and bags because those will get covered in color powder. Or if you think that’s cheesy, wear clothes with zippers so you can store your wallet or phone in a safe spot.

Questions? Contact:

Valeria tenreiro

Health and Wellness Director
SUMMIT AREA YMCA
valeria.tenreiro@thesay.org
(908) 273-3330 Ext. 1137 

SUMMIT AREA YMCA

BERKELEY HEIGHTS YMCA | SUMMIT YMCA | THE LEARNING CIRCLE YMCA

The Summit Area YMCA is one of the area’s leading 501(c)3 charitable organizations. Founded in 1886, the Summit Area YMCA has a history steeped in working side-by-side with our neighbors to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, income and background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Each year, we serve more than 15,000 individuals with our free and fee-based programs and services in an area spanning the communities of Berkeley Heights, New Providence, Millburn, Springfield, Short Hills, Summit, Gillette, and Stirling. Through the generosity of our members, donors, and partners, we are able to offer financial assistance for our programs and services to those with demonstrated need. We deepen our impact each time we transform a life for the better and we couldn't do it without you. Help us do more together by making a donation online today!