Festival of colours

Ahead of the Holi festival celebrations taking place at UTS on Saturday 23 March, we spoke to the UTS Indian Society DESI about what Holi means to them, how they’ll be celebrating and how you can get involved with the society.

For those unfamiliar with the Holi festival, what does it mean? What is the history of it?

Holi is a South Asian celebration commonly known as the Festival of Colours. 

The festival celebrates the victory of good against evil, with the concept of the festival stemming from the Hindu religion. 

There are a couple of legends that are more commonly known for how the festival originated, with one interpretation describing how the son of a demon king survived an attempt on his life and the other that celebrates the Hindu deity Krishna and the love expressed to his consort Radha through vibrant colours, hence the throwing of the coloured powders and water.

How is Holi celebrated? What customs are involved?

Customs vary across various parts of India. The throwing of coloured powder and water is a key element of the festival. Additional traditions include:

• the lighting of pyres
• the welcoming of the harvest/spring
• lots of food (a common theme across Indian festivals).

Vipsa Gandhi, the President of the UTS Indian Society, told us what it’s like to celebrate Holi:

"As a kid I remember visiting family friends back home and greeting each other with sweets and smearing Holi colour on their face as part of the celebrations. I now celebrate Holi mostly with friends and family in Sydney but still remember moments from when I was younger and how fun it was seeing everyone and how crowded it was”.

Sahel Mohammed, Treasurer of the UTS Indian Society, remembers the crowd and the energy.

"It was so nice to see everyone because it served as a uniting moment for everyone because we would meet relatives and families we hadn't seen in so long at Holi. It's a bit different now, especially because it’s far away from home and we don't get to spend it with the extended family, but it's still special with the family and friends I have here especially!"

Can anyone join the celebrations?

In India, Holi remains a festival celebrated by a wide range of people and faiths, so regardless of who you are, you’re more than welcome to celebrate Holi. 

How can they get involved with the society?

Aside from joining the celebrations on the day and becoming a member of the UTS Indian Society, there are plenty of opportunities to become a committee member or volunteer. Find out what’s available.  

How will the society be celebrating Holi at UTS?

At UTS, we will be celebrating Holi through a party, in classic Indian society style. We will be using colour packets and water to celebrate (as well as music and snacks!).