DATE: Saturday, March 22
TIME: 2:15 PM
General Admission: $15 Adults / $12 Member Adults / $8 Children

Can't make it in person?
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Celebrate spring with us!  Join Abha Roy, Srijan Dance Company, Dr. Naren Budhakar, Roshni Harripersaud, Ethan Rampersaud and Brandon Mohammed for an afternoon of Indian music, and dance that embraces the colors and joy of spring. 

The afternoon begins with a dance workshop led by master teaching artist Abha Roy.  Then enjoy the show, featuring the Indian classical forms of thumri and tarana, intertwined into a single piece in kathak dance style by Srijan Dance Center. The late great Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussein will be remembered by Dr. Narendra Budhakar's tabla solo and Rajasthani folk dances;  as well as phagwa folk music by Roshni Harripersaud, Ethan Rampersaud and Brandon Mohammed from Guyana.  Delicious food by Queens Curry Kitchen will be available for sale throughout the day.  Holi is celebrated by all, regardless of culture, caste, gender, or religious affiliation.

What is Holi?

Holi, often called the "festival of colors," is a vibrant and joyful Hindu celebration that marks spring’s arrival, the triumph of good over evil, and the legendary love between Radha and Krishna. 

This festival, mainly observed in South Asia but also recognized globally, typically spans two days and is rooted in ancient traditions, mythology and community gatherings. Its date changes, as it is based on the full moon in the month of Phalguna, part of the Hindu lunar calendar, usually falling in late February or March.

Parking Information: Flushing Town Hall has a small parking lot at the rear of the building, which fills up quickly during events. Additional parking is available nearby at:

• PEC Parking – 35-15 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354
• The Farrington Parking – 33-66 Farrington St, Flushing, NY 11354

About the Artists

Abha Roy


Abha Roy, the artistic director of Srijan Dance Center and master teaching artist, has led the Flushing Town Hall Annual Diwali Festival since its beginnings. A master of Kathak dance, she studied under the guidance of late great Guru Kundan Lal Gangani and attained professional precision under the training of Pt. Durgalal when she completed her specialization in Kathak Kendra, New Delhi. She represented the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and has taught and performed in South America, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. She has also performed throughout Europe and venues such as Lincoln Center, Flushing Town Hall, Queens Museum, NYC Cultural Festival, and many more. 


Dr. Naren Budhakar 


A versatile tabla player, Budhakar has accompanied prominent vocal, instrumental and dance maestros. He has also contributed his tabla to varied music genres including pop, rock, Irish Celtic and jazz.  He has played at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Metropolitan museum, Getty Museum, Indian Ambassador's residence, the U.S. Open tennis stadium and also abroad including France, Czech Republic and Scandinavia.  He was featured as the guest artist on a percussion C.D. with conga maestro Paoli Mejias which was nominated for the Latin Grammy awards.  Naren is a disciple of Ustad Shabbir Nisar with whom he continues to study.  He has also been studying singing North Indian classical music with Aditya Khandwe, a leading young maestro from Mumbai, India. 


Srijan Dance Center

Srijan Dance Center, a creative unit of Suparc Enterprises Inc., started off in 1994 with a handful of talented and dedicated Indian dance students, and now has fifty regular Kathak, Indian folk dance, and yoga students, trained under the tutelage of Abha Bhatnagar Roy.

Located in the tri-state area, Srijan is involved in successfully introducing Indian culture to NYC libraries, museums, public schools, and other major establishments including Lincoln Center, Columbia University, and the United Nations. Srijan Dance Center is also actively involved in NYC Board of Education’s “Project Arts,” where it conducts storytelling, yoga, and dance workshops for K-12 students, their parents, and teachers.

Queens Curry Kitchen

Nupur Arora, owner of Queens Curry Kitchen. Fashion designer-turned chef, Nupur started Queens Curry Kitchen as a way to explore her creative endeavors with food and a diverse palette. What started as a hobby soon became hugely popular amongst Indian students of a prestigious New York university who loved her home-style food that reminded them of food made by their moms. Today Chef Arora is the author of a book, “The Vegan Indian Home,” with many others in the works, but continues to share her flavors with her food through catering and events, and weekly meal delivery service, all from her Queens Curry Kitchen. 

This program is generously sponsored by the Guru Krupa Foundation