Indian Medical Students Prepare For ‘Holi Festival’ In Davao City

About a thousand Indian medical students are gearing up for the colorful “Holi Festival” on March 19.

The director of the Davao Medical Education Management Service (DMEMS), Raja Selva Kumar, said holding a Holi Festival in this city is one opportunity for the Indian students to celebrate the Festival of Colors, an important event in India.

He said it would be a grand celebration for Indians whose population is increasing.

On the other hand, Juvy Sta. Maria, one of the organizers of the Holi Festival in Davao City, said that they expect more participants this year. Aside from the students, other Indian nationals including those from the business sector are participating.

Filipino residents also signified their intent to join not only from Davao City but also from the neighboring cities and provinces, she said.

Sta. Maria said it will be the second Holi Festival in the city and it is being supported by the city government and the private sector.

Organizer Panjah Kumar, who is also proprietor of Panjah Indian Cuisine said there will be Indian delicacies during the event like Samosa, Paratha, Biryani and others.

Kumar said the March 19 program will kick off with the playing of color powders with water balloons and water guns, a short program with speeches from representatives of the Davao City mayor’s office, Indian temple, Indian medical students union and from other guests outside of the city.

The event will also be highlighted by presentations of Indian dances and songs, a DJ exhibit and disco with Indian and Filipino mixes.

During the festival, Kumar said they will be using Gulal Holi Powder imported from India of 5 to 10 colors that are completely non-toxic, water soluble and environmentally friendly.

“They are allergen-free and they have the highest quality, color brilliance and safeness at the same time with no harmful ingredient,” he said.

He said “festival goers should wear white and leave colorful”. The Holi Festival of Colors 2016 is inspired by the original Indian Holi festival. It is not religious and does not promote any religious aspects or groups. It is about promoting the ideas of unity and camaraderie through the colors of everyday life. It is a day of fun and excitement.

The Davao Holi Festival will be held at SM Lanang Premier with tickets valued at P300 and P400. It is for 14 years old and above. Kids under 14 years old will be allowed to enter the venue but must be accompanied by their parents, Kumar added.

Meanwhile, Kumar disclosed that the number of students taking up Medicine at the Davao Medical School Foundation alone has doubled from less than a thousand years back to about 3,000 as of latest count.

Kumar said there are more Indian medical students coming to Davao because they regard medical education here as the second best in Asia. “Besides, the cost of studying medicine here is much cheaper than in India,” he said.

He said the whole course here would cost them only P3 million but back in India the expenses would reach P8 million. And they are still anticipating more students by the next school year, he added.

At present, Kumar said there are now 780 doctors that took up Medicine in Davao City who are now practicing doctors all over the world. (PNA) LAP/LCM/DIGNA BANZON/LDP