NOLA Holi
NOLA Holi Festival was started in 2024 to add a flavor of India to the rich tapestry of the French Quarter in New Orleans. Though FQ is vibrant with music and colors, This region, unlike any other region in the US, has its own music, food, and dance. There are more festivals celebrated in Acadiana than there are weeks in a year. Lafayette Holi adds another festival to this festive place.
The first NOLA Holi Festival was a day event that blended the revelry into the rich cultural tapestry of New Orleans. The festival started with the Holi Bhangra Parade, led by the Krewe da Bhan Gras. The parade started from across Jackson Square, near Cafe du Monde and traveled to Washington Square Park along Decatur, N Peters, and Esplanade, and Frenchmen. Upon
NOLA Holi Festival is a family friendly festival, catering to all age groups. This is a festival where not just the kids, but even the adults can be kids.
History
The spark for NOLA Holi can be traced to a water balloon flying through the streets of New Delhi. It’s target: Michelle Lakhotia, out on her morning run. Though that was not the most pleasant way to be introduced to Holi, Michelle recovered fast and was soon hurling water balloons at passersby.
That was in 1991. Michelle had arrived in India just a month earlier to join her husband Dr. Arun Lakhotia. On return to Lafayette, LA Holi became their family festival celebrated with colors, water balloons, and all (except the targeting of strangers).
In 2010 the couple brought their love for Holi to the city of Lafayette, creating the first Lafayette Holi Festival under the aegis of the Acadiana Indian Association of which Arun was then the President. The community of Lafayette immediately absorbed the festival as one of its own, and it’s been going strong ever since.
As life went on, in 2018 Michelle took a job in Trist Middle School, Chalmette LA and the couple set up a home in Marigny-Bywater. But of course, Holi had to come with them, and in 2022 they got rolling on Holi to New Orleans. It was launched as the First St Roch Holi Festival, celebrated on the neutral grounds behind the St. Roch Market.
Tragically the 2022 St Roch Holi festival was to become the last for Michelle. However, since the mission had started, Arun continued on it to bring Holi to New Orleans as a public festival. By late 2023, Arun had with him a team of like minded enthusiasts interested in adding the rich and vibrant culture of India to the vibrant cultural tapestry of New Orleans.
On December 7, 2023, the team – Arun Lakhotia, Manish Patel, Raj Shah, Nikhil Akkaraju, and Jignesh Patel – co-founded the NOLA Holi Festival Inc as Louisiana Non-Profit Corporation and became the Founding Board of Directors. The organization received 501c3 non-profit status from the IRS soon after.
As a tribute to Michelle, the inaugural festival, celebrated on March 23, 2024, was named the Michelle Lakhotia Memorial NOLA Holi Festival. Any festival in New Orleans cannot be complete without a parade, The stars for that were already moving into alignment. Krewe da Bhan Gras, launched during Mardi Gras 2023, had already captivated the city. The two organizations joined hands to create the first ever Holi Bhangra Parade in the French Quarter.
