People throw powdered paint at each other during the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Covered in brightly colored paint, Seema Mulla of Irvine takes photos as she attends the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Suma Srinivas of Irvine throws powdered paint into the air as she attends the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People dance to the music while having their photo taken as they attend the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anil Kumar, left, and his wife, Jyoti, serve Indian food to customers at the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People dance to the music as they attend the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Suma Srinivas of Irvine throws powdered paint into the air as she attends the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dancers from the Dhwani Academy in Irvine perform during the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

People sit on the lawn as they attend the Indian Spring Festival held at Mike Ward Community Park in Irvine on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The event was hosted by Irvine Council member Mike Carroll. Food booths served vegetarian dishes from different regions in India. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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People gathered on a warm Saturday in Irvine’s Mike Ward Community Park to celebrate the Indian Spring Festival.

The event celebrated seven Indian festivals: Holi, Baisakhi (also pronounced Vaisakhi), Bihu, Vishu, Poila Boishak, Ugadi and Puthandu.

Hosted by Irvine and Councilmember Mike Carroll, and organized by a variety of local groups, the festival featured traditional dancers, music and vegetarian dishes from different regions. There was also the throwing of colorful powered paint, which marks the beginning of spring and celebrates good over evil.

Gaurav Bhargava, president of the United American Indian Association, noted Irvine hosting the festival was significant since the city is home to an Indian population of about 9,000 people.