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Penn Museum to celebrate Holi in partnership with Three Aksha
The event will showcase traditional dance, music, storytelling, and the signature throwing of brightly colored powders.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 18, Feb 2025
- 14:59 EST
- 486
Holi festival / Image- Penn Museum
The Penn Museum, in collaboration with Three Aksha and the University of Pennsylvania's South Asia Center, will celebrate the arrival of spring with CultureFest! Holi on Mar. 15.
The event will showcase traditional dance, music, storytelling, and the signature throwing of brightly colored powders.
Three Aksha, a Philadelphia-based dance company founded in 2003 by artistic director Viji Rao, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Indian culture through the classical dance form Bharatanatyam. Specializing in the Kalakshetra style, known for its emphasis on bodily expression and storytelling, the company has performed extensively across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and India.
Holi, widely observed in India, Nepal, and across the world, marks the transition to spring and symbolizes renewal, love, and the triumph of good over evil. The festival is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, particularly in the story of Lord Krishna and Radha, a theme that will be highlighted through performances and discussions.
“This traditional festival conveys a timeless love story,” said Viji Rao, artistic director of Three Aksha, a dance company and educational institute involved in organizing the event. “Lord Krishna is dark blue-skinned and falls in love with Radha, but he is embarrassed by his dark blue skin. He playfully colors Radha’s face during a game—and she falls in love with him. This is the origin of throwing colored powder and water during Holi.”
The event will feature a performance by Three Aksha musicians, an interactive talk and dance performance led by Nruthu Aaloka and Meena Venkat, storytelling sessions, and a Bharatanatyam presentation titled UTSAV by the Three Aksha dance ensemble. The celebration will conclude with the throwing of colors in the museum courtyard, embracing the spirit of Holi.
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