Holi Celebration in Athens

Athens celebrated this year’s Holi, the Indian festival of colors, on Thursday, March 24 at Indian Haveli restaurant providing to the participants the opportunity to enjoy the Indian colors and flavors in a very intimate and festive atmosphere.

The event was organized by the Indian Embassy in Athens and attended, apart from the embassy’s staff, by prominent members of the Indian community in Athens and many friends of India in Greece. The Embassy was represented by the First Secretary, Mr. Ram Verma, while from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended Ms. Niki Stefanidou, Second Secretary of Economic and Commercial Affairs. Among the distinguished guests were  Dr Dimitrios Vassiliadis, President of the Hellenic-Indian Society for Culture and Development (ELINEPA),  Mr. Antonis Papadopoulos, General Secretary of ELINEPA,  Mr. Magar Gandhi, President of the Greek-Indian Cultural and Welfare Association,  Ms. Eleni Kosifidou, President of the Yoga Association of Greece, Ms. Lida Sandala, Director of Santom Cultural Center and teacher of Indian classical dance, Ms. Anna Dimitratou,  Director of Artistic Studio Oriental Expression and teacher of modern Indian dance,  Maria Sykoudi (Aishvaria Devi), teacher of yoga and Indian dance  and others.

Attendees exchanged colors as per the Indian custom, enjoyed the exquisite Indian food and danced Indian dances until late afternoon. At the end of the program, all congratulated Mr. Verma for the Embassy’s initiative and expressed the wish to continue to organize such cultural events that allow the friends of India in Greece to live closely the customs and traditions of the wonderful India.