New York City Mayor Zahran Mamdani joined thousands of revelers in Queens to celebrate Vaguah, the Indo-Caribbean festival of Holi, participating in a vibrant parade that brought color, music and tradition to the streets of Richmond Hill.Mamdani participated in the 38th annual Phagwa Parade on Sunday, marching alongside Hindu New Yorkers to celebrate the festival. Holi represents the love between the Hindu gods Radha and Krishna, while also symbolizing light, color and the arrival of spring.In a post shared on
He pointed out that this year’s parade seemed more vibrant than ever, and added that New York City is ready to welcome spring, expressing its wishes for happiness and harmony for all.
The parade began at Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street and moved west along Liberty Avenue before turning north on 124th Street. It then headed east on 97th Street, ending at Smokey Oval Park, also known as Phil Rizzuto Park, where post-parade festivities continued with significant community participation.
Phagwah, the Indo-Caribbean name for Holi, attracts thousands to Liberty Avenue each year and holds profound significance for the Indo-Guyanese community. The festival, rooted in Hindu traditions, celebrates the victory of good over evil through the story of Prahlad and Holika, marked by the lighting of the Holika Dahan bonfire on the eve of the celebrations. The use of colors on the following day represents renewal, the arrival of spring and hopes of a good harvest, reflecting its association with agricultural cycles and new beginnings.Over time, Fagua has expanded beyond its religious origins in places like Guyana, and has evolved into a broader national celebration observed across communities of different ethnic backgrounds. For the Indo-Guyanese people, it remains a symbol of faith and a symbol of cultural identity, while also promoting values such as tolerance, love and social harmony.
