With each detail, chef PriaVanda Chouhan is reminded of her Indian traditions.

“You give out something sweet, so something nice happens in your day,” Chouhan, chef and owner of Desi Galli, said.

For Holi, she handed out the desert or methai, which is made of carrots and condensed milk.

“Hey guys, before you head out, Happy Holi,” Chouhan said while handing out her desserts to people in her dining room at Desi Galli.

Holi is the Hindu holiday celebrating the start of spring.

Growing up in Canada, Chouhan didn’t know many people who celebrated the holiday. She moved to the city 15 years ago, surprised by the city’s robust Hindu community.

“They all came together to celebrate any special occasion, especially Holi,” Chouhan said.

Holi is the holiday where people wear white clothing and throw vibrantly colored powder on one another.  

Chouhan celebrates with these colorful desserts.

Romeo Hitlall, the president of the United American Hindu Leadership Council, has seen the growth of the city’s Hindu community.

He said approximately 25 years ago, around 3,000 to 5,000 people showed up at the Holi celebration known as the Phagwah Parade, which he organizes.

Now, he said it draws up to 30,000 people each year.

“The Hindu population definitely [grew] throughout the years, what I would say, what we have seen close to a million, more than a million in New York state, especially areas like Richmond Hill. It’s a very high population of Hindus,” Hitlall said.

The names Phagwah and Holi are used interchangeably depending on one’s heritage.

"In India, they call it Holi," Hitlall said. "Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Jamaica are where Hindus are used to it as Phagwah. There is so much love in the air."

Regardless of what you call it, in this two-day celebration, the colors carry meaning sometimes signifying love and beauty.

Chouhan said her sweet treats are her embrace of her culture — wishing good fortune for the future.

“It just makes me so happy to see the smiles on their faces,” Chouhan said.