The Phagwah Parade will return this year

India

After canceling the first parade in 27 years in 2015, it seems like the Phagwah Parade is back on.

The spring parade is known for its colorful powders that are sprinkled upon people. The holiday celebrates the triumph of good over evil in the Hindu religion.

Last year, there was a feud regarding the control of an organization in the parade as well as the occurrence of two parade organizers filing for the same permit for the parade. The result was the 106th Precinct’s then Commanding Officer Jeffrey Schiff only approving one of the organizers. Still, feuds continue and the parade never happened.

Herman Singh of the Arya Spiritual Center, Inc. — whose permit for the parade had also been rejected for 2016 parade — launched a lawsuit claiming Schiff was on the side of his “rival” Romeo Hitlall of The Federation of Hindu Mandirs. Schiff, who recently moved to the 105th Precinct, claimed Hitlall’s application was approved because he applied on behalf of the “consistent” applicant of The Federation of Hindu Mandirs.

However, this year, Judge Allan Weiss told the parade organizers that they must work together.

This year’s parade will be on Sunday, March 26, and will take off from Liberty Avenue and 133rd Street. The parade is a big occasion for the borough’s West Indian population, but especially for those living in nearby Richmond Hill and Ozone Park.

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