Bright clouds of yellow, pink and blue powder will soon fill Trinity Lawn as Chico students gather to celebrate Holi, a colorful cultural tradition.
Often called the “Festival of Colors” or the “Festival of Spring,” Holi celebrates the victory of good over evil. The celebration marks the beginning of spring and promotes equality, as under the colorful powders, it is thought that all are equal regardless of status or demographics.
This celebration will take place on Friday from 5-7 p.m. at Trinity Lawn. Hosted by Chico’s Indian Student Association and Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Resource Center.
The celebration will feature Bollywood and Top 40 music to encourage dancing, traditional Indian food, free T-shirts, games and a performance from the campus Bollywood Dance Club.
The holiday is rooted in Hindu tradition and based on the legend of Prahlad and Holika, a story of truth, devotion and moral courage. The tale is about Prahlad, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. His evil aunt Holika, who wore a magical cloak that made her immune to fire, attempted to kill him by sitting with him in a bonfire. Prahlad’s faith, however, was enough to protect and keep him safe, while Holika perished, representing triumph.
While the celebration is traditionally an all-day affair, usually with bonfires, this event has been condensed into a two-hour celebration with no flammable elements to better fit students’ schedules, said Vinay Patil, president of the Indian Students Association.
The event will begin with an official welcome to provide cultural context before the main celebration, Rangwali Holi, which is the tradition of throwing colors into the air at one another. Each color holds a different meaning: red for love and energy, yellow for healing and prosperity, blue for infinity and divinity, green for new beginnings, orange for courage, and pink for compassion & friendship. These powder dyes in Holi traditions are called gulal.
“For international and South Asian students, celebrating on campus is a way to bridge the gap between ‘home’ and ‘here’,” Patil said.
Celebrating Holi in Chico will create space for cultural visibility and connection on campus, Patil said.
“CSU Chico isn’t just a place to study, but a place where different worldviews and traditions are celebrated and protected,” she said.
Beyond the festivities, the Indian Students Association hopes this will provide students with the opportunity to learn more about Indian culture and foster a greater sense of community.
“We aim to foster new friendships; it’s hard to be a stranger to someone once you’ve thrown a handful of bright pink powder at them,” Patil said.
To ensure safety, the colored powders are organic, skin-safe, non-toxic and biodegradable. Color throwing will also remain centralized, allowing students to choose to watch from the sidelines while still enjoying the atmosphere.
Attendees are encouraged to wear clothes they don’t mind staining and bring sunglasses for eye protection, because by the end of the evening, Trinity Lawn will be dusted in rainbow hues.
Lucy Bakowski can be reached at [email protected]
