LYNNFIELD — Lynnfield residents and others across the North Shore recently came together at the Glen Meadow Playground to celebrate Holi, a Hindu festival marking the arrival of spring.

“It’s a celebration of life,” Lynnfield resident Dhara Buch said. “Things are popping up in the spring.”

“Last year it was too cold but this year it’s a good temperature,” Lynnfield Middle School student Ranveer Singh said. “My friends come, and we throw colors around like red, yellow, orange, basically the colors of the rainbow, it’s really fun.”

Right before the event started, Natasha Shah, Lynnfield resident and one of the event organizers, said that they were expecting around 100 people from all over the North Shore to attend.

Deepak Kumaria, an attendee from Middleton, spoke about the religious significance of the festival. 

“It represents the victory of good over evil,” Kumaria said, telling the story of Holika Dahan, another celebration that occurs just a day before Holi, where a son was saved from being burned by his father, a demon king who wanted to be worshiped by everyone, and the king’s sister. 

Before the main event, where people throw colored powder around and place it on each other’s faces, the celebration kicked off with dancing. Lynnfield resident Vasudha Kudrimoti, and Middleton resident Swasti Bhargava led the attendees and instructed everyone on how to do a step-by-step Bollywood-fusion dance. Sweet and savory snacks, and drinks were distributed. 

“Dance and food are always present in every Indian celebration,” Lynnfield resident Deepa Pandit said.