Several South Asian student organizations, in partnership with the university, worked hard to make this year’s Holi festival of colors N.C. State’s best yet. Due to their combined efforts, the festival grew to a size unprecedented in the University’s recent history.
More than 450 students crowded Harris Field last Saturday to take part in the paint tossing and water balloon throwing associated with the Indian festival of color and spring.
The event was organized primarily by two student organizations — Maitri, the graduate student organization, and EKTAA, the undergraduate organization. Other organizations in charge of planning the event included the NCSU Cricket Club, Delta Sigma Iota, Inc., Kappa Phi Lambda, the Office of International Services and NCSU Staff Senate.
Naveen Bharathi, vice president of Maitri, said this year’s Holi was easily its biggest and most impressive edition yet.
“The event started around 2:30 and by 3:15 we had already sold all of our 650 paint packets,” Bharathi said.
These $2 packets of powdered paint, which can be purchased at many traditional Indian stores, World Market or the event, are thrown and rubbed on participants to celebrate the coming of spring.
Hindus traditionally celebrate Holi on the full-moon day in the month of Phalgun based on the Hindu lunar calendar. Although this year’s festival technically falls on Wednesday, March 27, organizers felt it best to do hold the celebration this past Saturday for two main reasons.
Prasanna Naik, a graduate student in electrical and computer engineering and the president of Maitri, said hosting the celebration on a Saturday would make it easier for students to participate without interfering with classes. Also, the Office of International Services will host its ISERVE event on March 27, which organizers suspected would conflict with their event.
Although the festival has religious origins, its meaning today has more to do with universal ideals, according to many South Asian students. Nithy Poosamni, a doctoral student in computer science and native of India, said the two main reasons for Holi are to welcome the transition from winter to spring and to bring people together to celebrate.
Unity was universally expressed as an important theme among the participants and organizers of the event. Sid Jandhyala, social chair of Delta Sigma Iota, Inc., the University’s South Asian multicultural fraternity, sees Holi as an opportunity for students of all nationalities to come together and have a good time.
Last year’s event attracted approximately 200 people whereas this year drew in more than 450, according to organizers. Much of this year’s success is attributed to the involvement of the Office of International Services and the use of social media.
Lauren Ball, programs coordinator for the Office of International Services, said more than 500 people said they were planning to attend the festival on the events Facebook page. The OIS also sent out an email to all of the international students informing them of the event.
“You can’t help but notice all of these people covered in paint,” Ball said.
Free water balloons, loud South Asian music, traditional Indian food and dancing accompanied the paint throwing.
the NCSU Cricket Club served authentic Indian snacks at a closeby booth, and the players promoted their team, which won a national championship, and is currently ranked 6th in the nation. The food included traditional Indian dishes such as mango lassi, a mango yogurt drink, and samosas, a baked or fried vegetable dumplings.
According to Poosamni, Holi is a holiday like no other.
“What other day can you come up to a complete stranger and throw paint at them and it be OK?” Poosamni said.
Freshman in biology Cassie Brinkman partake in the Hindu festival Holi on Harris Field Saturday.
