The Yorkshire Times: Holi

[[A break in hiatus to bring you a newspaper article. Once again, thanks for the inspiration Sitara and Starr. This post is in newspaper form, and I do not mean to copy anyone, it's just a really great idea. Sorry if all the facts are not correct. Lucille Durham, Patrick Liam, The Yorkshire Times, and Mondale Preparatory Academy are all figments of my (Brooke's) imagination, and are not meant to represent real people/places.]]

The Yorkshire Times
Monday March 1st, 2010
Lucille Durham-Community Life Reporter

Local Youth Celebrates Indian Festival

March first, to many American citizens, is just another day. The start of this month brings hope of fair weather, and with any luck, the sun will be shining warmer and brighter ever day. But the first of March happens to be so much more; it is the Hindu spring festival, Holi. Holi is the second most important festival of India after Diwali, and I had the pleasure to meet a young, Indian-American girl, Sonali Matthews.

"Holi is the festival of spring and color," the thirteen year old eighth grader who attends Mondale Preparatory Academy explains. "It is to welcome the spring and win the blessings of Gods, so there will be fertile land and good harvests."

Ms. Matthews grew up with Hindu customs, as her parents are direct immigrants from India, and both sets of grandparents still live in the country. To celebrate the holiday, Sonali dresses in a bright pink frock, to symbolize the color aspect of the festival. The Matthews, like other Indian families across the world, will mix traditional, colorful dyes as well. Her family will be preparing regional food like 'Gujia' and 'Papad' in celebration.

Happy Holi, Sonali, and all others who celebrate the festival!

Article Written by Lucille Durham
Photography of Sonali Dhara Matthews by Patrick Liam