Holi Indian festival celebrates end of winter festival

The Indian end-of-winter Holi festival is coming to IU.

The Asian Culture Center will start the celebration of the Holi festival at 6 p.m. today at the center, according to an ACC press release.

In celebration of Holi, also called the Festival of Colors, today’s event will feature free Indian snacks and chai tea as well as a slide presentation and a question-and-answer session explaining the meaning and spirit of the event. Snacks will include jilebi, a pretzel-like pastry dessert, and gulab jamun, a delicacy similar to donut holes in syrup.
The Festival of Colors has roots in Indian religious tradition, said Priyanka Dube, center student assistant.

People throw colored powder at one another for the holiday, said HaeSook Park, center administrative assistant.

“It’s become more just a celebration of spring,” Dube said.

The festival planned at the Asian Culture Center will, weather permitting, involve a color fight on the front lawn where participants will throw colored powder at one another.

Attendees are advised to wear clothes that can be caked with colored powder. Admission is free. Attendance in excess of 50 guests is expected.

“Some people, they bring their whole family,” Park said.