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Holi / Phagwah Parade and Festival
When - Sunday, March 15, 2009
When - Noon
Where - Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street, Richmond Hill, NY 11419
Route: Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street > west on Liberty > north on 123rd Street > east on 95th Avenue > to Smokey Oval Park at 125th Street.
Festival: Music and other cultural performances at Smokey Oval Park after the parade. The celebration is only allowed on the concrete part of the park, not the newly renovated fields. Celebration at Smokey Oval Park ends at 6 p.m.

The marijuana drink is known as Bhang.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhang

I grew up as a Christian in Calcutta and very much enjoyed participating in Holi. It was considered a spring festival. While I did not take part in the religious customs, it was great coming together of all people.

I am surprised your guest does not know of Bhang - the special mariuana spiked drink.

I remember a Dr friend of my dad's in Galveston, TX served "marijuana punch" at a dinner party 20 years ago. Must be this same drink. Tasty and potent punch.

The drink has BHANG in it: apreparation from the leaves and flowers (buds) of the female cannabis plant, consumed in the Indian subcontinent. It is consumed either as a beverage or smoked.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhang

I lived as a child in India for 2 years, at age 11-13, and Holi was the most thrilling holiday to discover.

We filled up water balloons with colored water, bombarded people, festooned people with powder, and many people wore pure white clothes, which further intensified the colors. Loved it! I miss it and think that NYC should adopt this as our celebration of NYC diversity!