Holi in London: Dona Ganguly brings Colours and Culture
A vibrant celebration of Holi in London with Dona Ganguly at the Nehru Centre. From Odissi dance to Rabindra Sangeet, discover how this riot of colours and culture brought the spirit of Vasant Utsav to the heart of the city.
If you happened to be strolling past the Nehru Centre in London recently, you might have thought you’d taken a wrong turn and somehow landed in Shantiniketan or the bustling streets of Kolkata. The air was thick with music, laughter, and that unmistakable, joyous chaos that only Holi can bring. And at the heart of it all? The ever-graceful Dona Ganguly, wielding her magic not just in dance, but in uniting people through the sheer exuberance of colour and culture in her celebration of Holi in London.
Londoners – or at least those lucky enough to snag an invite – were treated to a Holi and Vasant Utsav celebration under the supervision of Dona Ganguly, one of India’s finest Odissi dancers. The Nehru Centre of the High Commission of India in London played host to this explosion of rhythm and revelry, where not just the colours, but the very spirit of Holi, painted the city in its brightest hues.
Of course, this wasn’t Dona Ganguly’s first rendezvous with springtime festivities. Back in Kolkata, her dance school, Diksha Manjari, had already welcomed Vasant Utsav in the grand setting of the Indian Museum. But this time, the celebrations took on a global flair. Students learning dance online from across the world, as well as those eager to dip their toes into the classical arts, found themselves swept up in the festivities.
Music, as always, played a starring role. Alongside the elegance of Indian classical performances, the crowd swayed to a delightful mix of Rabindra Sangeet and Holi favourites. ‘Vasant Pallavi’ set the classical tone, while ‘Dhol Baje’ had even the most rhythmically challenged tapping their feet. ‘Eki Labanye Purna Pran’ and ‘Ore Grihobashi’ tugged at the heartstrings, while ‘Rangiye Diye Jao’ and ‘Desh Rangeela’ ensured that not a single soul remained seated.
Dona Ganguly herself, ever the beacon of cultural exchange, reminisced about the Holi celebrations at her Kolkata home. “There are already so many students in London,” she noted, with a touch of pride. “When I’m in Kolkata, I take classes online, but here, my students and even alumni who have settled in London could come together for this wonderful event. This isn’t about intricate dance moves – it’s about joy, about togetherness. And what better place than the Nehru Centre to bring this to life in London?”
True to her words, the festival was less about technical footwork and more about unbridled happiness. Participants, young and old, twirled, clapped, and perhaps even flung a bit of metaphorical gulal (it is London, after all—no one wants to be scrubbing powder out of their hair on the Tube).
For one evening, in the heart of London, Holi wasn’t just a festival – it was an emotion. An emotion wrapped in music, laughter, and the kind of unfiltered joy that has a habit of making its way into your heart, whether you’re drenched in colour or simply in the warmth of shared celebration.
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