The SPECTRUM

Volume 31

The SPECTRUM

The SPECTRUM

Holi is holy

Hindu students celebrate this religious holiday

Some students may be left confused, after receiving an email from school chaplain Anne Gardner on Friday, March 18. The email, titled Observance of Holi, began with “today at sundown (Friday, March 18) the celebration of Holi begins.” It continues, explaining the celebration of Holi entails the throwing of colored dyes and water and the celebration of the Hindu god Krishna. But what does this holiday really mean and who celebrates it?
Holi is a religious Hindu holiday, mainly celebrated in India, where “Hindus make up 79.8% of India’s population,” (Pew Research Center). It is as Victor Suh ’25 a member of the student council said during an assembly Wednesday.
“A goodbye to the dark winter, and a welcome to the colorful spring,” Suh read.
This is essentially a correct summary. Holi is also the festival of good overcoming evil, and a celebration of the life of the Hindu deity Krishna, and his love. Krishna is the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu, the “protector of the universe” (BBC), the Zeus of Hindu mythology. In other words, Krishna is very significant to Hindus and Indians.
In terms of the festivities, they include food, dancing and the colorful explosions of dyes. “In some parts of India, communities begin the festivities by lighting bonfires the night before in a celebration known as Holika Dahan, or Choti Holi. The bonfires are a nod to one of the most well-known legends associated with the festival,” according to (CNN).
The holiday means a lot to Pranav Iyer ’25 and his family, as it does to many Hindus.

“Holi is a very unique, fun, and colorful holiday that represents the triumph of good over evil,” he said.

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