Celebrating darkness’end
Amid plumes of powdered dye and a shower of water, members of Utah State University’s Indian Student Association danced in celebration of the Holi Festival Saturday.
“[The festival represents the] end of darkness – so it will be filled with colors, meaning new hope, new joy,” said Deekshit Dosibhatla, president of the Indian Student Association.
Holi is a Hindu festival celebrated in the three to four days leading up to the full moon in the month of Phalguna, which occurs between the end of March and the beginning of April. In India Holi is celebrated as a national holiday.
According to the Web site www.eaglespace.com/holika.html, Holi marks the death of the demon Holika. Traditional stories say she was burned while trying to burn her nephew Prahlad for defying their father. While Holika burned, Prahlad survived the fire by being true to the god Vishnu.
“Everyone from the president to farmers participate,” Dosibhatla said.
While the actual day changes from year to year, this year Holi occurred March 28, but the Indian Student Association decided to postpone its celebration due to the lack of dyes.
Color is the name of the game at the Holi Festival, therefore, a multiplicity of colored dyes is used. The dyes used in the festival were ordered from India where they are made of non-toxic pigmented flour as compared to their United States counterparts, which contain some toxic chemicals. The colors from the dyes stain the skin for a period of one to two days.
“They’re non-toxic,” Dosibhatla said. “We like to take care of ourselves.”
Holi celebrations are usually filled with an abundance of music, water and most of all, color. Participants are welcomed by being soaked with water and then covered with powdered dyes ranging across the color spectrum. The festival held on the Quad on Saturday afternoon had fast-paced music from India playing for students to dance to.
Clouds of the powdered dye could be seen among the smiling participants while they danced under a shower of hose water. Students in attendance greeted each other with “Happy Holi” and a handful of pigment usually meant for the face. Hugs were also commonplace. The colors were mixed with water in large tubs as well as applied directly to the skin.
Around 40 to 50 participants attended the festival – approximately one-third of the Indian Student Association’s members. Although some were carried in kicking, an atmosphere of joy permeated the festivities.
Swami Pati and Ajay Gupta dance during the Holi Festival Saturday at USU. (Zak Larsen )
Deekshit Dosibhatla, president of the Indian Student Association, raises his hands while water from a hose rains down on him during the Holi celebrations on the QUAD Saturday. (Zak Larsen )
Gopal and Satyanarayana put a thick paste made from dyes into each others hair Saturday. (Zak Larsen )
Ajay Gupta pours water on the head of Tapan Pathar to help colored dyes stick to him at hte Holi Festival. (Zak Larsen )