The University of Memphis’ Holi Festival Recap

By: Kerrie Wilson

For the first time ever, the University of Memphis hosted an event known as

the Holi Festival of Colors, a festival that celebrates the incoming spring season.

The event was hosted March 1 and started around, 11 a.m. and lasted until 2

p.m.

The event was coordinated by the International Students Association and the

Indian Student Association.

The majority of the 30 participants belonged to the organizations, however

there were a few others who do not belong to either organization that joined the

festivities.

“We had a lot of fun, the atmosphere was pleasant,” said Eddie Roe, member

of the board in the International Students organization. The patrons threw colorful

paint on one another, in celebration of the coming spring season. The bright colors

represent new friendships and good fortune.

“We celebrate Holi at my house, however I have been a student here for

three years and have not celebrated the holiday at school ever,” said Rasha

Hamesh, a University of Memphis junior.

The event was meant to bring in people of different nationalities, not just

Indian students. According to Roe the expected outcome was 75, but due to the

weather only about 30 people showed up. The weather was quite muggy, and it

rained right before the event started.

“The turn out was good enough for us,” Roe said. We still had tons of fun and

there were many new faces in the crowd, I would say it was a success despite the

weather,” said Roe.

Some students were not familiar with the holiday, however they still joined the

festivities.

“I have never heard of Holi, but I saw the flyer posted in the University Center

and thought I would attend because it looked like it would be fun,” said Megan Ross,

a University of Memphis sophomore.” I am glad I went, I’ll bring a friend next time.”

The event will be celebrated on campus again next year, Roe said.

Students left the event with smiling, colorful, faces. Everyone wore a white

shirt with the Holi Festival logo printed on the front. By the end of the event the

formerly white shirts were splattered with paint.

The idea to celebrate cultural holidays on campus was widely accepted

among the non-Indian attendees, said John Brewer a University of Memphis

sophomore.

The Holi Festival of Colors could be the start of an annual event meant to

bring students of every race together, Roe said.

“I hope other multicultural organizations think to host events that spread

awareness of different cultures and invite people of every nationality” Roe said.

Students here are throwing paint at each other.

John Brewer and Megan Ross sporting their colored faces and tees after Holi Festival

festvities

Megan Ross and John Brewer pose after they finish the festivities.

Holi flyer