Southern Illinois University Carbondale will hold a Holi celebration, the traditional Hindu spring festival from India, on March 25. The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the lawn of Morris Library and is open to everyone.
The Holi festival is known for its vibrant colors and focus on unity. Renada Greer, executive director of the Student Multicultural Resource Center, said, “The Holi celebration offers a wonderful opportunity for the community to gather and share a special, fun cultural celebration. Although the festival’s origin is with the Hindus, it is an inclusive event with unity as its theme. SIU’s Indian Student Association helps organize this festival of colors and we encourage everyone to come support our students, faculty and staff from India.”
The festivities will begin inside Morris Library near the Abraham Lincoln bust. Attendees can enjoy refreshments, music, and receive informational materials about Holi. Color powder will also be distributed at this time.
Afterward, participants will move outside to the library lawn where they will receive packets of brightly colored powders. At a designated signal, everyone will throw their powders into the air in a display meant to symbolize love, unity, inclusion, and happiness.
Organizers advise attendees that the colored powder may get on clothing or belongings and recommend dressing accordingly. The event is sponsored by the Student Multicultural Resource Center, the Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and SIU’s Indian Student Association.
The university encourages broad participation in this annual tradition as a way to foster understanding and celebrate diversity within the campus community.
