As the Spring Break kicked off, I ended my musical week with a brand new experience: Saturday, March 15 held on campus Holi, the Festival of Colors, at the multipurpose fields. Holi is a holiday originating from North India and Nepal, yet is a tradition spread around the world for South Asian communities to devout. The events consist of loud music, colorful powders and colors from water guns being dispersed around to cover everybody with vibrant complexions. The general sentiment I understood walking in for this event was to set aside differences and celebrate the friends and community around you.
As I walked in, I was introduced to people applying the color on my face with two fingers; “Holi Hai!” (translated ‘It’s Holi!’) was a phrase that was frequently repeated as I asked for color from others. Hospitality was plentiful as, everywhere I walked, I was greeted with contagious smiles and endless excitement. The shouting of Hindu lyrics erupted the crowd, with music riddled with loud bass, oscillation, ever-shifting repeated phrases and even the occasional use of electric guitars in ways unique to India.
“Enjoy!” was something a new-made friend told me after asking what Holi meant to them, one word that spoke volumes to how I approached my time in the field. A group I came across fully embraced my presence and invited me to their circle to dance with them. They were elated to share their dances with me, often all shouting fanatically and excitedly when I mirrored their shimmies. The dances were structured around rhythmic phrases, with each next dance move building on the last. Dance moves I learned from this gathering expanded upon how to use my upper body, giving me new ideas on how to connect to the lower body, giving me quite the workout. The dances were plentiful and completely new to me, connecting me to a world of new possibilities.
As the music began to fade and people began to settle down, drops of rain fell from the sky, offering a cooling end to a vivid afternoon. I found new friendships in my cross-cultural peers and learned so much about the beautiful tradition India has to offer. Overall, the weekend was one of the best events I experienced all year, leaving me only wanting more. The inviting culture of India is one that continues to wow me, with the country’s pride being easily accessible to any fresh, willing participants.
“[Holi is] a time to celebrate for the youth, a time to release all your cares and responsibilities and just have a good time with friends,” as described by a new friend. The message I got from the limited time I spent at the campus event was this: Holi has many interpretations regarding the meaning, origins, and historical backgrounds. The common denominator for it all, however, is to celebrate the gift of life with community, something that I believe is integral to the human experience.
Loved reading about how Holi served as more than just a colorful celebration—it became a moment of unity and shared joy. That’s the kind of energy campuses thrive on.