The Holi Festival of Colors // Katie Dickens
On April 3rd from 1-3 pm, students gathered on the lower quad to celebrate Holi, the South Asian festival of colors. The holiday occurs on the onset of the Vernal Equinox, also known as the beginning of spring. The festival emphasizes the victory of good over evil and the celebration of love and community.
Students waited in line to try traditional South Asian spicy foods before watching dances and learning about the history of the holiday.
Students eagerly watched as dancers performed to Bollywood style music on the lower quad. Amee Upadhyay, president of the South Asian Student Association, said the sheer turnout was her favorite part of Holi this year.
“I loved seeing the diversity and magnitude of the crowd every time I turned around,” she said.
Holi was “played” in three rounds, with each round starting with everyone throwing packets of colorful chalk in the air.
Students chased each other around Manchester Plaza, covering each other in vibrant blue, green, yellow, pink, and purple chalk.
Sangnyaa Chandna (’18) covered her eyes from the clouds of chalk.
Students were just as energetic during the third and final round as they were during the first.
Sarah Hoyle and Melissa Gauthier, both seniors, celebrated their last Holi festival on campus.
A colorful haze settled over the quad as students walked back to their dorms.
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