There was laughing, cheering and the occasional whistle for a special dancer echoing from the halls of Baker Ballroom on Sunday. This marked Athens’ observance of Holi.
Holi is a cultural festival that is not limited to one religion and signifies good triumphing over evil. The holiday is marked by the throwing of colored powder and celebrations in the form of dancing and performance art.
“Holi is also known as the festival of color because once everyone is coated in color, everyone is the same and unified, “ said Manindra Singh, a third-year Ph.D. student studying molecular biology.
The Indian Students Association sponsored the event, which featured performances and a traditional meal.
The cultural festival is a chance for students and community members to come and celebrate, learn more about the holiday and have fun with one another.
“It is important because it gives students a chance to socialize and meet everyone,” said Bhakti Shah, executive committee member of the Indian Students Association who has been involved with the event for three years. “It’s a good thing to host and we have a bi-annual event so I’m happy about that.”
Besides being a place to eat traditional food and enjoy performances, the Athens observance of Holi is a learning tool.
“It’s important to go to events like this so that you get to learn a new culture,” said Nihal Said, the president of the International Student Union and a second-year master’s student studying communications and development. “It introduces you to something that is different. You come to this event and you get to see the performances, you get to know about the culture.”
During the festival there were sure signs of a good time; feet were moving with the music, and seconds on the food were a must.
“I thought the event was really fun,” said Sharron Sturgeon, a lecturer for the Ohio Program of Intensive English. “I think the Indian students do a great job of showing how happy and colorful their culture is. I know the students put a lot of effort into practicing the dances, and of course the food was amazing, so if you like Indian food and would like to see fun stuff this is definitely the event you want to come to.”
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This article appeared in print under the headline "Unified in color"
