Get Colorful at Inaugural Holi Fest

March 6, 2015

Join the Multicultural Student Center and the Center for International Studies as they host the inaugural Holi Festival on campus Wednesday, March 11 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Georgia Avenue in front of the University Store and Dining Commons.​ Translated as the “Festival of Colors,” Holi is a traditional holiday celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. Holi Festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of good over bad. It is a socio-cultural festival during which a wide range of colors are smeared over each other as a mark of love and belonging, and to welcome the spring season. Participants are advised to wear white T-shirts or clothing that you don't mind getting smeared with colored powder. The colored powders will go away after washing and are nontoxic. However, try to avoid getting the colors into eyes,ears, nose or mouth. “One of the goals of the Multicultural Student Center is to produce programs and activities intended to raise multicultural awareness and appreciation of diversity across the campus, and foster a climate within the campus community which recognizes the value that multicultural diversity brings to the total educational experience. The Holi Festival does exactly that,” said Dorsey Baldwin, director of the Multicultural Student Center. “We were excited that some students and faculty members came to us with the idea of having this cultural program on our campus and we are equally excited to make this a tradition on our campus.” The Holi Festival can be regarded as a celebration of the colors of unity, friendship and brotherhood -- an opportunity to forget all differences and indulge in unadulterated fun. It has traditionally been celebrated in high spirit without any distinction of caste, creed, color, race, status or sex. It is one occasion when sprinkling colored powder ('Gulal') on each other breaks all barriers of discrimination so that everyone looks the same and universal brotherhood is reaffirmed. “Holi is a beautiful cultural holiday, rich in Indian/Hindu spirituality coupled with exuberance and joy of the coming of spring. With beautiful colors and music to accompany to the celebrations, Holi is the perfect Indian holiday to be held on college campuses,”  said Jacek Lubecki, director of the Center for International Studies.