A Holi-themed celebration returned to downtown Oshawa on March 6, bringing students and community members together for a night of music, dancing and cultural connection on Bond Street.
The event was organized by Euphoria Entertainment and led by Sarinilanka Perera, a former student of Durham College, who has been hosting Holi celebrations in Oshawa since 2024.
Holi, often called the “festival of colours,” is widely celebrated in India and Nepal to mark the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.
While traditional celebrations usually include colourful powders, the Oshawa event focused mainly on music and performances.
Perera said the goal of the event has always been to give students a place to celebrate their culture while living far from home.
“It’s important for students because many people are away from their families,” she said. “Events like this help people feel connected and less homesick.”
One of the highlights of the evening was a live dhol performance by Jorawar Jaswant Singh, a student at Durham College studying Fitness and Health Promotion.
Singh, who also performs under the stage name Zorro, can play more than 15 musical instruments.
Music throughout the event was provided by several DJs, including Ritesh Patel, the resident DJ who kept the crowd dancing with a mix of Bollywood and dance tracks.
Despite the lively atmosphere, attendance was lower than in previous years. About 140 people attended this year’s event, compared with more than 200 in earlier celebrations.
Perera said the drop may be connected to changes in the student population in Oshawa.
“A lot of students have moved to other cities or returned to their home countries. That has made it harder to bring the same number of people together.”
Attendees said the event still created a fun and relaxing environment.
Sathuriyan Param, an attendee from Sri Lanka, said the celebration offered students a chance to take a break from their busy schedules.
“Students leave a lot behind when they come here to study,” he said. “Events like this help people relax and release some of the stress.”
Param added he would like to see more cultural festivals like this in Oshawa in the future.
Organizers say they are already thinking about new ideas for upcoming events, including the possibility of hosting a larger outdoor celebration in the summer.