Share the joy – Share the colors!
Experience the outdoor HOLI event in Montreal!

Inspired by the ancient tradition of India, this musical color-throw festival will transport you into a world of joy, happiness and unique memories! World, Indie, House, Regaetton and many more music beats will be performed by DJs and live bands. You will enjoy Bhangra, Bollywood, Samba and other dance animations throughout the day.

The color-throw means the sharing of joy and love. A unique opportunity to have fun when at a given signal everyone starts gently throwing colored powder at each other! Bring your kids, friends and loved ones, or make new friends at this unique concert!

The main concert is preceded by yoga workshops and traditional Indian dance performances. Thereafter, a fusion of mainstream and Indian music will submerge you into an exceptional ambiance, full of energy and wonder! Several dance styles will perform on the main stage throughout the day. Additionally to the concert and color-throw, you find a variety of booths where you will be able to get Indian souvenirs, traditional dishes called “thalis”, clothes, henna tattoos, and much more!

You can explore the children’s area with its bouncy castles, facial decoration workshops and other activities.

The evening will end with a perfect view of the fireworks – it’s not to be missed!

OVER 6 HOURS OF NON-STOP MUSIC AND DANCE WITH HOLI COLOR-THROW!
12h00 – Indie Mantra-fusion by Jaya Sangha group
12h30 – Yoga Workshop by Daana Yoga (bring your mat)
13h15 – Welcome and the Significance of HOLI
13h30 – World Music by DJ Neerav
13h50 – Color-throw introduction by Bollywood Blast
14h00 – World Music by DJ Neerav and Acro Yoga Dance by AYURA
14h45 – Ecstatic live music by Jaya Sangha band
16h15 – Bollywood, Indo-Caribbean Chutney & Soca by DJ Vik
16h45 – Dance Choreography by Bollywood Blast
17h05 – Bollywood-fusion music by DJ Vik
17h35 – Dance Animation by Power Bhangra and MTL Bhangra fitness
18h00 – Bollywood-fusion music by DJ Puggy Mixsingh
18h15 – Bhangra Dance Choreography by Power Bhangra
18h20 – “Victory” song by Mr Bolly
18h30 – House Music by Jack’s Kartel (with Samba Dance intro)
20h00 – Reggaeton and more Remix styles by Daven Ray
21h00 – Popular Hits from East and West by DJ HitN
21h50 – Final thanks

The color-throw can take place at anytime within the festival grounds, but it will be done collectively on every hour starting at 2pm (2pm, 3pm, 4pm, etc). This unique experience will be followed by the perfect view of the Montreal fireworks!

ACTIVITIES
Besides the main music and color-throw celebration, there will also be bouncy castles for kids, south Asian bazar, great Indian and local food stalls, henna, and more!

LOCATION
The Clocktower Quay is one of the most popular tourist spots in Montreal, situated in Old Port, accessible easily from Champ des Mars metro station. Following the Festival, at 10pm, the participants will have an opportunity to observe the Montreal Fireworks with a perfect view!

TRADITION
HOLI [sanskrit] – also known as the “festival of colours”, is a spring* festival celebrated all across the Indian subcontinent as well as in countries with large Indian subcontinent diaspora populations such as Jamaica, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Mauritius, and Fiji. It signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia. In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colors.

LEGENDS:
Holi has long traditional links with several legends. According to one popular legend, the word Holi is derived from the demoness, Holika. She was the sister of Hiranya Kashipu (the name meaning love of gold and a soft bed), a demon king, who having defeated the gods, proclaimed his supremacy over everyone else in the Universe. Enraged over his son’s ardent devotion to Lord Vishnu, Hiranya Kashipu decides to punish him. He takes the help of his sister, Holika, who is immune to any damage from fire. Holika carries the small boy Prahlad into the fire but a divine intervention destroys her and saves Prahlad from getting burned. Thus Holi is celebrated to mark the burning of the evil Holika. Her effigy is consumed in the fire!

Holi is celebrated with special importance in the North of India. It solemnizes the love of Radha and Krishna. The spraying of colored powders recalls the love sport of Lord Krishna and His devotees.

ESSENCE:
The color, noise and entertainment that accompanies the celebration of Holi bears witness to a feeling of oneness and sense of brotherhood. The festival brings home the lesson of spiritual and social harmony!!

For tickets and information, visit: www.holimontreal.com