Puffs of colorful powder filled the air around the Foothill Parking Lot, where UC Berkeley’s Indian Student Association hosted Holi, a Hindu festival celebrating the start of spring.
Known as the “Festival of Colors” and celebrated in early March, Holi marks the transition from winter to spring and honors the love between Hindu deities Radha and Krishna. It also commemorates the victory of good over evil and is widely celebrated across South Asia.
Traditionally, Holi festivals involve singing, dancing and, most notably, the throwing of colorful powders in the air and at one another. ISA sold color packets to students before and during Holi and attendees of all backgrounds came together to celebrate.
Student attendee Tweesha Chugh said Holi is the event they look forward to the most from ISA, adding that they check every March to see when the festival will be held.
“It’s probably the most accessible holiday,” Chugh said. “You have your friends, and it doesn’t matter who they are or where they’re from, so it’s really easy to celebrate.”
Alongside the colorful celebration, ISA had music playing throughout the event, including traditional Bollywood and some American artists. According to ISA president Vihaan Khandelwal, Holi is one of the club’s largest events, with more than 1,400 students participating.
“Holi is just on a different scale,” Khandelwal said. “We have to get ready for set up a lot earlier, and because of the scale of the event we have to take more precautions.”
ISA’s Holi is the largest collegiate Holi celebration on the West Coast, according to a post on ISA’s Instagram page, and prides itself on sustainability. Powders from ISA are Green Event certified, using plant-based materials that reduce harmful runoff. While some attendees remarked that people bought powders that weren’t sold by ISA to bring to the venue, Khandelwal mentioned that ISA would continue trying to streamline the check-in process in future years.
Though Holi is a well-established event on campus, Khandelwal did mention potential plans to hire Dholi, traditional drummers who participate in most Indian celebrations.
For some students who have typically celebrated Holi and other cultural holidays with family, ISA’s events provide a community experience and also an opportunity to destress with peers. Along with Holi, Diwali and Garba celebrations, ISA has collaborated with the South Indian Society to host Onam celebrations and plans to work with the Bengali Student Association, the South Asian Caucus and the Pakistani Student Association.
“Holi (is) always the most fun and childish event … so every year I hope to bring the same joy … to the people of Berkeley, especially when there’s so much happening all the time,” said Khandelwal. “It’s a way to de-stress, and I think that’s a big motivation for us.”