UMES Extension joined some 400 community members in celebrating diversity May 6 at the Colors of Holi Festival at WinterPlace Park in Salisbury. Dr. Naveen Kumar Dixit, an associate professor of horticulture and extension specialist, and a student research intern, Erasmus Aduteye, were on hand to share information on UMES’ Horticulture and Fruits Program.
Holi is an ancient Hindu festival known, among other things, as a festival to welcome spring. In India, it is usually celebrated for two days but can last up to a week filled with singing, dancing, visiting family and friends, enjoying special food and drinks, and having fun with colors and water relating to the legend of Lord Radha Krishna.
Spring at the UMES Orchard is also a time of celebration as fruit trees and vines come to life with buds and blossoms in anticipation of delicious fruits to come in late summer. Dixit displayed and discussed the program’s projects such as day-neutral strawberries, grapevines, Asian ethnic vegetables (bitter gourd/bottle gourd), cold hardy pomegranates and apple rootstocks. Several festival attendees, Dixit said, showed an interest in participating in online and in-person fruit and vegetable cultivation workshops through the program.
Above: UMES students, from left, Mercy Amofa, Erasmus Aduteye, Malika Brown and Iyanu Peace Olumanyowa participated in a color throw as part of the festivities along with UMES Extension specialist Naveen Kumar Dixit.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos submitted.
