Durham: Indian restaurant expands and Duke hosts post-pandemic Holi return
Durham's South Asian community is present in both the restaurant scene and on university campuses. A well-established Indian restaurant has announced plans to expand with a grab-and-go market, while Duke University held its first post-pandemic Holi celebration in March 2022, drawing students and faculty to mark the Festival of Colors with music, food and colour.
Popular Durham Indian restaurant owners to open grab-and-go market
The owners of a popular Indian restaurant in Durham are opening a new grab-and-go market, according to the Raleigh News & Observer. The move represents an expansion of an established South Asian food business in Durham, adding a faster, more accessible format alongside the existing restaurant operation. Grab-and-go concepts have grown in popularity as a way for restaurant operators to reach customers who want quality prepared food without a full sit-down dining experience. For Durham's Indian community and the broader city population, the addition of an Indian grab-and-go market offers a new option for weekday meals and quick lunches. Durham has a sizeable South Asian population, including students, researchers and technology workers, making it a strong market for Indian cuisine. The Raleigh News & Observer's coverage of the venture signals that the Durham restaurant scene is paying attention to Indian food operators as they grow and diversify their businesses. Specific details of the market's opening date, location and menu were not included in the available report summary. [1]
Duke University holds Holi 2022, first post-pandemic Festival of Colors
Duke University marked Holi 2022 with its first on-campus celebration since the global pandemic, bringing together South Asian students and faculty at the Durham institution, according to Duke Today. Holi, the Hindu holiday also known as the Festival of Colors, celebrates love, the triumph of good over evil and the end of winter. Leela Prasad, professor of religious studies at Duke University, described the return of the event as a moment of genuine relief and joy. 'There's just such a release, a relief, a joy at being able to hang out together once again, to be able to throw color on one another,' Prasad said, adding that participants had gained a greater appreciation for the freedoms they had taken for granted before the pandemic. Prasad also led a discussion of the mythology and significance of Holi on campus the Friday evening before the main event. The celebration continued on Saturday, March 19, with Duke students enjoying music, food and the throwing of coloured powder. Holi is observed across South Asian countries and throughout the South Asian diaspora worldwide. The throwing of colors symbolises happiness, Prasad noted, as well as nature's variety and the welcome arrival of spring. [3]
Sources: [1] Raleigh News & Observer · [3] Duke Today