Over 3000 people attend the 14th annual Holi Hai celebrations at Exchange Place in Jersey City

JERSEY CITY (TIP): On Saturday, June 15, Surati for Performing Arts hosted its 14th Annual Holi Hai Festival of Colors in Exchange Place, in Jersey City. The festival attracted over 3000 people from far and wide. Starting with a color walk from Hoboken’s Pier A Park, the large group gathered at Montgomery Street in Exchange Place to participate in the festivities, which included multicultural performances by over 50 artists, a variety of food and beverages, retail vendors, DJ and kid-friendly recreational and educational activities.

Against the spectacular views of the Manhattan Skyline, the day began with a Yoga workshop by Luis Lujan. Children’s dance performances followed, and then the adults took over for an all-day celebration through a series of performances that included traditional Indian classical dance and music, Bollywood, Indian classical Jazz Fusion, Bhangra, Garba, and Belly Dancing. The half-hourly color countdowns were a favorite as people enthusiastically threw colored powder in the air with the accompaniment of energetic music. Later in the afternoon, DJ Karma rocked the crowd for hours.

True to its slogan, “When everyone is colorful, no one is special,” the festival brought people together from all walks of life, ethnicities, and cultures to freely mingle and celebrate. The performances included dance and musical performances ranging from traditional to various  contemporary genres presented by artists belonging to a wide range of schools and genres.

In partnership with the Health and Recreational departments of Jersey City, students of JC schools were allowed free entry to the color walk as part of the Healthier JC and Opioid Prevention initiatives for which Surati is working to create more health and fitness events this summer.

Founder and Artistic Director of Surati for Performing Arts, Rimli Roy said, “14 years ago, we started Holi as a small gathering indoors at a restaurant in Journal Square. Thanks to the support we have received over the years from sponsors, donors, and the community, the festival has grown significantly to become a destination event on the New Jersey-Hudson County-Jersey City & Hoboken waterfront.”

Dignitaries who attended the event included Gina Hulings – Director of Hudson County Cultural Affairs, William O’Dea – Hudson County Commissioner, Joyce Watterman – Jersey City Council President, James Solomon- Jersey City Councilman for Ward E, and former Governor of NJ – James McGreevey.

Holi Hai 2024 was sponsored by the Exchange Place Alliance, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield  of New Jersey, The Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Jersey City Cultural Affairs, and Curry-On Restaurant.

Surati’s 2024 programming is supported in part by the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund, The Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, NJ Arts & Culture Renewal Fund, NJ Tourism (visit NJ), The National Endowment for the Arts and by generous donors.

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Media contact: Anand Rao. pr@suratifpa.org, press@suratifpa.org, C: 801.815.3872

Office: 201-360-1553

About Surati Holi Hai:

The mission of Surati Holi Hai is to bring together the diverse communities of Hudson County and beyond through a festival celebration of performances, arts, culture, educational events, and

family-friendly programming. Holi – the most popular festival of colors originated in India as a

celebration of spring, brotherhood, and unity. Though Holi has its roots in traditional Indian

mythology, the very essence of it eliminates differences and negativities. Surati celebrates Holi

as a strictly secular and “inclusive” festival, encouraging participation from all cultures and

ethnicities. Surati spreads the message of love and peace through Holi with its slogan “When

everyone is colorful, no one is different”.

Holi Hai Website

About Surati for Performing Arts and Mission:

Award-winning nonprofit Surati for Performing Arts’ mission is to create and present performing arts and cultural experiences that globalize themes rooted in Indian culture, that convey the universal message of equality, inclusion, and unity in diversity, through staged productions, arts-in-education, cultural festivals, educational and interactive workshops. Surati strives for artistic excellence and works with quality artists, administrators, and technicians who

are culturally and ethnically diverse and brings its programming to the under-served communities as well. Surati has recently been recommended for funding by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Surati for Performing Arts Website

About Rimli Roy

Born and brought up in Kolkata, Rimli Roy is the Founder and Artistic Director of Surati for Performing Arts and is a recipient of the 2024 Individual Artist Fellowship award from the NJ State Council in the Arts. As an artiste – dancer, choreographer, actor, producer, and director, she is trained in three distinctly different Indian classical dance forms–Odissi, Bharatnatyam, and Manipuri and has been working for over three decades to take arts to the community.

Rimli and the Surati team have performed at the United Nations, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Kennedy Center of the Arts and have been featured in Vogue, CNN, and NBC to name a few.