To welcome the arrival of spring, Brooklyn Children’s Museum and Anja Dance Company will host Celebrate Holi, a celebration of renewal, color, and play, on Saturday, April 1.
Also known as the “Festival of Colors,” Holi is enjoyed by millions of people around the world. The day at Brooklyn Children’s Museum will be filled with art, dance, food, and music that will transport attendees of all ages to the streets of India. The festival culminates in a joyful and colorful display as guests gather outside the Museum to toss vibrant powder into the air and at each other.
Celebrate Holi is curated by Minila Shah, founder and artistic director of Ajna Dance Company. The event will feature performances and activities by Ajna Dance Company, violinists Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy, author and food educator Anu Sehgal of The Culture Tree, artist Deepti Sundeer, DJ DynAmite, henna artist Shamina Akter, and food vendors Veeray da Dhaba, Malai Ice Cream, and TAGMO.
“Holi represents all the great new possibilities that come along with a new season,” says Minila Shah. “We are thrilled to partner with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum to celebrate this wonderful festival.”
“Celebrate Holi is one of our most anticipated and energetic events of the year,” says Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, President and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum. “We are excited to present a day filled with delicious food, captivating music, and creative art. We invite everyone to come ready to enjoy a day of vibrant colors and fun as we celebrate this amazing festival.”
The day offers three Celebrate Holi sessions, each lasting two and a half hours, at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 4:00 pm. The performance line-up is the same for each session, and each session culminates in color powder play in the park.
Each of the three Holi Sessions are the same and include:
Musical Rhythms of South India
Tune in with musicians Trina Basu, Arun Ramamurthy, and Sriram Raman as they share the musical traditions and rhythms of South India through violin, the mridangam, and song in this interactive performance.
The Story of Holi Book Reading
Anu Sehgal will share her book, Kahaani Rangeeli, a colorful story of Krishna and his friends in this book celebrating Holi.
Bollywood Dance
Hear the story of Holi and move to the rhythms of Bollywood dance with Ajna Dance Company. This program includes storytelling, a dance performance, and a dance workshop that showcases the traditions and rituals of Holi.
Spices & Thandai Milkshake Workshop
Join Anu Sehgal from The Culture Tree for an introduction to the traditional spices and flavors of India. Learn how to make a Thandai milkshake and get a taste afterwards.
Suncatcher Creations
Celebrate the vibrance of Holi by making your own hanging suncatcher with artist Deepti Sunder. Participants will create their own colorful suncatchers by cutting and arranging translucent paper shapes.
Marigold Necklaces
Visit the ColorLab Art Studio where we’ll be using tissue paper and string to create festive marigold necklaces and garlands.
Henna
Get henna designs on your hands with henna artists Shamina Akter and Shillz.
Color Play
Let the party begin! Pick up your powder and get ready as DJ Dynamite plays dance music and counts down to the start of color powder play.
Veeray da Dhaba
On sale: Samosas.
Malai Ice Cream
On sale: Ice cream inspired by South Asian flavors.
TAGMO
On sale: Chicken tikka roti wrap, veggie sandwich, mithai box, buttercrunch cookies, pecan nankhatai cookies, masala chips, masala nuts, and chai.
Powder is available for purchase online in advance and onsite at BCM on the day of Celebrate Holi. All online powder orders will be held at the Museum and distributed on the day of the festival during each session.
Powder is sold in bundles, with each bundle containing 4 packets of color powder. We recommend 2 bundles per family.
Online powder sales are limited to 4 bundles per order, and any additional bundles purchased will be removed and refunded in order to ensure adequate supply for all.
Online powder sales close Wednesday, March 29 at 11:00 pm and all powder sales will take place at BCM after that date.
We suggest purchasing your powder online. Please make sure to select the same powder session time (10 am, 1pm, 4 pm) that you have purchased general admission tickets for. Powder purchased for session 1 will only be distributed during session 1, and so forth for the additional two sessions. This will make it easier for you to quickly pick up your powder on the day of the festival and ensure a smooth process for all.
Tickets are $13 per session ($12 for grandparents and free for children under 1 year old). To view the festival schedule and purchase tickets, visit: www.brooklynkids.org/holi
Partners ~ Celebrate Holi is curated by Minila Shah, founder and artistic director of Ajna Dance Company. BCM is proud to partner with Ajna Dance for this year’s festival, and to host violinists Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy, mridangist Sriram Raman, author and food educator Anu Sehgal of The Culture Tree, artist Deepti Sundeer, DJ DynAmite, henna artist Shamina Akter, and food vendors Veeray da Dhaba, Malai Ice Cream, and TAGMO.
About Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Inspired by the energy and diversity of our borough, Brooklyn Children’s Museum creates experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity and cultivate joyful learning. Founded in 1899 as the world’s first children’s museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) is New York City’s largest cultural institution designed especially for families. Proudly based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, BCM serves 300,000 children and caregivers annually with exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures. The Brooklyn Children’s Museum is located at 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.