Happy Holi

Children covered in coloured powder as part of the Holi festival
Children celebrating Holi Image by shekharchopra85 from Pixabay

Sunday 28 March is the Hindu festival of Holi, the “Festival of Colours”, celebrating the coming of spring, and the love of the god Krishna and the goddess Radha. Its most distinctive feature is the great fun that people have throwing coloured powder over each other. Any one is fair game, no matter who it is!

It is the second biggest Hindu festival after Diwali.

Traditionally, people visit friends and family, and share sweets including sweet filled flatbread, deep-fried flour balls soaked in yoghurt, and sweet deep-fried dumplings.

So, Happy Holi.

Cecil Rhodes House in Somers Town to be renamed

Residents in Cecil Rhodes House have voted to rename the building Park View House, after the building’s views over St Pancras Gardens.

https://news.camden.gov.uk/cecil-rhodes-house-renamed-by-residents/

Cecil Rhodes is a controversial figure, to say the least, these days. He believed in expanding the British Empire, and that white Europeans were the “supreme race”. He was Prime Minster of the Cape Colony (now South Africa), and the country of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) was named after him. He founded the De Beers diamond company to exploit Africa’s mineral wealth, and he established the Rhodes Scholarship. A statue of him in Oxford is to be taken down this year after Black Lives Matter protests last year.

Nowruz: Iranian New Year

Persian Nowruz Haft-sin table, with garlic, [painted eggs, goldfish, apples, vinegar, book, pomegranate seeds, sumac, hyacinth, a coin, a mirror and a candle
Nowruz haft-sin table. Image by Gabriele M. Reinhardt from Pixabay

Today, 20 March 2021 is Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. This ancient tradition has been celebrated for over 3000 years.

It is said that Persian king Jamsid saved the world from a winter that threatened to kill everything and everyone. He had a throne made from gems, and had demons raise him into the sky where he shone like the sun.

People from Iran and Central Asia often have a table in their house with various items (similar to the picture) symbolising the new year, growth and prosperity. There are various other new year customs, which you can read about here.

Census — Sunday 21 March 2021

census 2021 logo

The national census is happening on Sunday 21 March 2021.

The census happens every 10 years, and is a snapshot of the whole population. It allows the government to plan where it needs to spend its money. The census is how the government actually finds out about the people living in the country.

For example, if an area has a population that is increasing, then the government (at all levels) needs to plan for more schools, more housing, etc for that area. Or if an area has an aging population, then they may decide that the area needs improved care services.

We strongly urge all people to fill out the census – it means that you are more likely to get the services that you need. All responses are confidential and protected by law so you can’t be identified.

This year it will be done online mostly. You should be receiving a letter from the government with instructions and an access code.

www.census.gov.uk

https://news.camden.gov.uk/take-part-in-the-census-on-sunday-21-march/

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