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PrOMOTING INTEGrATION ANd dIVErSITY IN MALTA
JuNE 2014
The Holi Festival Marking the triumph of good over evil Malta’s Indian community, along with Maltese and members of other diverse communities, celebrated the colourful festival of Holi this year. The festival was organised by Gilbert Mohnani and hosted by the Consulate of India, in Santa Venera. The event took place at the end of March. It featured Indian cuisine and music, as well as games for participants to enjoy. The Holi Festival is a celebration that originates in ancient India which marks the triumph of good over evil. The celebration also signifies the end of dark and drab winter, and the arrival of the bright and colourful spring season. On the third day of the festival, people of all ages gather together in brotherly and sisterly love to throw coloured powders, abeer and gulal, at each other. In addition to India, Holi is celebrated in many countries around the world, especially in Asian, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, North American and European countries. © Images – Jasen Ogle
The changing face of folk Malta Council for Culture & the Arts
Għana
© Images – Jasen Ogle
Bizzilla
Pasturi
Tberfil
Filigree
Perhaps the real reason which makes Għanafest one of Malta’s fastest-growing festivals is the atmosphere: friendly and relaxed, families, young and not-so-young will feel equally at home here. Local artisans work at their crafts before your eyes, and will often chattily explain how they are made. This year, there was a children’s workshop on tberfil too – the decorative painted lettering often found on the old buses which is rapidly dying out. Yet, despite its increasing popularity, the festival is still intimate enough for details to be curated lovingly. Even the food is carefully picked to a theme: no commercial entities are in sight: you are likelier to find pastizzi, imqaret and all things traditionally Maltese, making this festival – devoted to music, food and crafts – much more than just a series of concerts. In such a setting, folk music can flourish. Folk’s power lies in its telling of simple stories, the stirring tunes, the stunning rich voices – and this year’s Għanafest – which was held from 30 May to 1 June with a gypsy/klezmer music theme – promises plenty of all of those. The festival, which is supported by the Malta Council for Culture & the Arts and the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government, is organised under the auspices of Fondazzjoni Ċelebrazzjonijiet Nazzjonali (FĊN) in collaboration with Valletta 2018 Foundation.