Indians Celebrate a Low-Key 'Holi'
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ARAB TIMES, TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2021 NEWS/FEATURES 13 People & Places Stage Bread and cameos Year without income from Broadway stage By Mark Kennedy year ago, Max Kumangai was dazzling crowds A with a jolt of live Broadway excitement. Now he’s doing it with his bread. The triple threat from the musical “Jagged Little Pill” has leaned into a fourth skill as the pandemic marches on: baking and selling his own sourdough. From his Manhattan apartment, Kumangai delivers $15 bread loaves or $8 focaccia slices from his Hump- day Dough company on foot or via subway. “I wanted to make connecting with people — at a time when it was diffi cult to connect — a part of the business,” he says. “It’s feeding me fi guratively and literally.” With TV and fi lm sets slowly gearing back up a year after COVID-19 hit, Broadway theaters are still shuttered with no end in sight. That means people who make their living in live entertainment have had to be creative. Out-of-work seamstresses are selling handmade jewelry and plush toys on Etsy, danc- ers are teaching classes online Kumangai and actors are doing voiceover work, podcasts or selling video shout-outs on Cameo. One stage manager launched Stagedoor Candle Company, a line of fragrance products inspired by Broadway musicals. There’s an eBay marketplace selling Broadway memorabilia to help artists put something in their pockets. “This is a paycheck-to-paycheck profession. We are workers,” says Laura Benanti, a Tony winner. “It’s re- ally deeply upsetting to me that there are so many peo- Some file photos of past celebrations of Holi in Kuwait. ple suffering, unable to feed themselves. They don’t have savings.” According to a new report from the New York State Comptroller, employment for New York City work- ers in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors fell Festival 66% during the pandemic. The drop — from 87,000 jobs in February 2020 to 34,100 jobs just three months later — marks the larg- est employment decline out of all sectors in the city’s economy. It has left Broadway workers, many who Pandemic robs fun and frivolity from colorful festival have lost health insurance, living on side gigs, stimu- lus checks and unemployment assistance. Since March 2020, the national human services group The Actors Fund has distributed more than $18 Indians celebrate a low-key ‘Holi’ million in emergency fi nancial assistance to more than 15,000 people in the entertainment industry. By Chaitali B. Roy ferent religions in India. Bahadur Shah sweet shops sell traditional Indian Special to the Arab Times Zafar, the last Mughal Emperor, whose sweets during this time. Most people Relocated Holi ‘phags’ (songs) are enjoyed even play colours in the lobbies of their “I’ve had a lot of friends who just picked up and oli’- The Festival of Colours today, had his forehead tinged with buildings, and the evenings are spent relocated and moved to different states because we’re ‘His one of India’s most ancient ‘gulal’ colour by his Hindu ministers. in get-togethers.” Avinav Sharma, an staying in one of the most expensive states in the festivals that marks the transition of During the rule of Shahjehan, Holi was entrepreneur, agrees that celebrations country,” says Jawan M. Jackson, a star of “Ain’t Too nature and the advent of spring. It is known as Eid e Gulabi (Pink Eid) due are different in Kuwait, but living by Proud — The Life and Times of The Temptations.” a festival replete with symbolism, to its carnival spirit. Today, when In- the rules is important. “According to He pivoted to putting out a single, fi lming a movie and Writers Larry McMurtry, (right), and symbolising new beginnings, renewed dia’s various religious communities re- Hindu mythology, Holi symbolises the got into commercials. Diana Ossana pose with their awards hopes, a new harvest and a reaffirma- joice together and say ‘Holi Hai’, it is regeneration of new life. To me, the He wished government leaders would do more. for best screenplay for ‘Brokeback tion of love. In some parts of India, a tribute to India’s multihued culture, basic message of Holi is to embrace “We kind of feel like we are just afterthoughts,” he Mountain,’ at the 63rd Annual Golden Holi also celebrates the start of a New whose roots go back a long way. all that is good and leave bad memo- said. “I just wish they would have been a little bit bet- Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif, Year. But like all festivals celebrated Holi celebrations mean doing away ries behind,” he says. “Holi has always ter during the shutdown for us because of the predica- on Jan 16, 2006. McMurtry has died with inhibitions, disregarding polite been about meeting up with friends at the age of 84. His death was con- in the pandemic, Holi too has lost its ment that we’re in. But hopefully it’s going to change. colour and verve. On March 28 and societal norms, splaying one another and family, eating gujiyas and having firmed Friday, March 26, 2021, by a with coloured powder and water and fun together by smearing each other We’ll see.” 29, Indians will celebrate their second Others are more blunt: “These artists need to be pro- spokesman for his publisher Liveright. indulging in merrymaking. “The cel- with colours and playing with water,” Several of McMurtry’s books became Holi in the pandemic. In India, state ebration goes on for two days in most says Ritu Nath, a company executive. tected. They need to be supported. This is dire straits governments have issued directives to right now,” said Tom Kitt, a Pulitzer Prize-winning feature films, including the Oscar-win- of the states that celebrate,” says Rahul “But due to the pandemic, none of this ning films ‘The Last Picture Show’ and restrict celebration in public. Indians Srivastav, an IT professional. “On the is possible. Everyone wants to avoid composer. “This is the lifeblood of this city.” ‘Terms of Endearment.’ He also co- have been asked to observe a low key Theater work even without a pandemic is usually a evening of the fi rst day, public bon- gatherings, and no one wants to apply wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay Holi at home. fi res commemorating the burning of colour to one another. It just doesn’t piecemeal existence. Shows rarely run for years and for ‘Brokeback Mountain.’ (AP) Of all the Indian festivals, Holi workers live a nomadic existence, jumping to new Holika, a demoness are held. The bon- feel festive. I hope that by next Holi, is the most colourful and celebrated fi re symbolises the destruction of evil. we will be able to celebrate the festival works every few years. These days, they’re even more across India and the diaspora. Holi is piecemeal since people who make live theater will The next day, the more enjoyable and with all its fun and vibrancy.” celebrated differently in different parts recognisable ritual of splashing and Shalini Kabra, an investment ac- clearly be the last back at work. of India, but the spirit, enthusiasm and “You pick up things where you can. I know a lot of throwing of colours take place.” countant in Kuwait, hopes the festi- colours remain the same. Like most val will bring hearts closer despite people that have taken on side gigs when they can. A Hindu festivals, Holi has ancient ori- Restricted lot of people have gone back to school,” said Derek the social distancing. “Holi is the Klena, a Tony-nominee. “You do what you can to get gins, and it symbolises the triumph of The festival is an excuse for cel- festival of colours, emotions, and by.” good over evil. Mythology associated ebrants to shed their inhibitions and happiness,” she says. “Given the pre- In 2019 according to the comptroller, the average with this festival reaffi rms the power of enjoy a day of fun. “India goes quite sent circumstances of the pandemic, salary among actors in the city was $65,756, with mu- ‘truth’ and ‘good’ over ‘evil’. Interest- crazy during Holi,” says 18-year-old it is beyond doubt that Holi can not sicians and singers bringing in $43,966. Despite the ingly, despite its religious roots, there Rishab Thakur. “A couple of years be celebrated with the usual breezy, pandemic, New York City remains the second-highest is not much religious activity involved back, I was in Delhi. I saw people on carefree spirit. Coronavirus has rental market in the United States, with one-bedroom in its celebration. “It is a harvest festi- the streets laughing, shouting, chasing forced the festival of colours to be median rent at $2,460 in March. Roumain Nantz val, which celebrates that time of the each other, throwing colour and dunk- “colourless”. In this year’s Holi, fac- Musician Andrew Griffi n had landed a great gig year when the farmers await the new ing each other in tubs of colour.” es will not be masked with colours playing viola for “Ain’t Too Proud” when the pan- harvest,” says Atul Gupta, a resident of This year, Holi will be subdued but with face masks. I hope the fes- demic shut down his steady gig. He has cobbled to- Variety Salmiya. “Harvest is a time to rejoice without its usual fun and frivolity. With tival still brings hearts closer despite gether a few live concerts, composed for a dance com- and celebrate.” Holi is also linked to the virus looming large in most parts of the physical distancing.” Dr Suren- pany and done some consulting work.