OU’s India Student Association will host a Holi celebration featuring powder colors, food and an inflatable to welcome spring on campus.
Co-president Smruti Patel said the organization serves as a community for students of Indian heritage, but anyone can join the India Student Association and participate in any of its events.
“It's like an international organization, and we're here to spread our culture,” Patel said. “But at the same time, just be diverse and have other people know a little bit more about our culture since there's so many different varieties of cultures within India as well.”
The celebration of Holi marks the welcoming of spring and usually includes bright and neon colors. Vice president internal Aniketh Koneru said many people celebrate Holi through throwing colored powder at one another.
“Spring represents the birth of lots of color in life and things like that,” Koneru said. “We kind of emulate that through the different powder colors that we throw. And usually in India, you do it in neighborhoods or wherever your family is, so you come together with your family, your friends, your community, and you all kind of just powder each other, and everyone comes out looking like a rainbow hot mess.”
Patel said Holi is separated into two days, the first of which people gather and practice puja, a form of ritual prayer, around a bonfire. The second day is Dhuleti which is the color celebration. Holi takes place on a different day each year and follows the lunisolar Hindu calendar. This year, Holi was on March 13, but the India Student Association celebrates Holi on a day where the most people can come.
“It literally just means comfort and a sense of belonging,” Patel said. “Holi is like a comfort holiday for me because I feel the nostalgia of throwing colors and everything, and now I get to enjoy that with my friends here.”
Holi also celebrates family and community. Koneru said Holi reminds him of the diversity of India and how vibrant and full of love it is.
Attendees can look forward to the large inflatable structure featured this year. Patel said she is excited for the special Holi drink she is making for the event and to see the happy faces of the international students.
“This is like the one time we get to just feel free,” said Koneru. “I just feel like a child. I feel like I'm reliving my childhood memories being able to just throw powder at your friends and just run around.”
Koneru said a lot of planning and logistics goes into the event. The biggest concern is keeping the South Oval in good condition. Patel said they want to make sure colors do not go onto the concrete and they respect the place.
The organization encourages anyone to come out and enjoy the event. Attendees can try new foods, throw color powder and have fun.
“It's really just about making fun memories with your friends,” Patel said. “It's something you do with the people around you, and it's a core memory that will stay with you.”
The celebration will be from noon to 3 p.m. at the South Oval, April 20. The event is free, but guests must RSVP online and sign a liability form and photo release in order to participate. Information on the India Student Association and its future events is available on Instagram and OU Engage.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Ryan Little and Grace Rhodes copy edited this story
