Colorful festival of Holi marks end of winter, start of spring
Throwing colors tradition highlights celebration
Vivid yellow, blue and magenta colored powder swirled in the Oklahoma wind as a local group proved that it’s never too late for a Holi day.
The Indian Association of Oklahoma’s Holi Festival of Colors brought hundreds of people together for food, dance performances and a colorful finale Saturday at Bluebird Crossing in Logan County.
The 2022 Hindu holiday was generally observed on March 18 in India, Nepal and other places around the world. However, organizers of Saturday’s event delayed their festival thinking that the Oklahoma weather would be more conducive to an outdoor event in April than in March.
The sunshine and warm temperatures on Saturday didn’t disappoint.
It was perfect for the highlight of the festival celebrating spring and love – the Holi tradition of throwing colors.
Angela Oommen, of Edmond, one of the festival organizers, said Holi festival goers look forward to throwing a powder mixture dyed in various colors each year. People generally throw it on each other, bathing their clothing, hair and bodies in various hues.
“We’re welcoming spring,” Oommen said. “It’s a celebration of spring and the end of winter.”
People eagerly waited in line to get plastic bags containing of a mixture of cornstarch and organic food coloring. It only took a few people to spread the colored powder on someone’s face or clothing before a large grassy area became filled with dye and people laughing and squealing in fun. Many individuals purposely wore white shirts and pants, and within minutes their clothing was transformed with patches of color from the dyed powder.
Rajin Shrestha, of Norman, planted his green hand on the back of his friend’s white T-shirt during the color exchange. He said he is Hindu and very familiar with Holi, though not from India. “We are from Nepal but our culture is the same,” he said. “We do this every year.”
A few people who weren’t certain about the colorful gaiety tried to stay far from the crowd, but the wind often carried the powder their way.
Eric Smith and Jess Marshall were anticipating the color. The couple said they drove from Lawton in search of something different for their two children to do.
“Seeing other cultures raises compassionate children,” Smith said.
Before the festival’s vibrant culmination, children were given kites to fly and many of them participated in an egg hunt. People sat under shade trees and watched dance performances, including traditional Indian folk dances,
performed by the Sai Nrithya Dance Academy in Oklahoma City and Norman, and Nritya Arpan Dance School in Edmond.
Nishita Shah, Nritya-Arpan Dance School’s founder and artistic director, said she and two of her students were thrilled to perform at the festival.
To quench their thirst, festival goers drank mango lassi, a cold drink made of milk, yogurt, sugar and mango flavor, and another drink called thandai, a traditional Holi cold drink of milk, rose petals, turmeric and other natural ingredients known for boosting immunity. Festival food included chicken curry, saffron rice and samosa, a pastry filled with fried potatoes.
Message of unity
Abhilash Sasibhran, of Edmond, said he was born in Delhi, India, and he remembered the Holi festivals there. He anticipated the throwing of colors and shared memories of Holi events bringing not just friends but also enemies together for a day of joy and reconciliation.
“It’s a perfect day to get together,” he said. “Even if you have enemies, you come together with them. On Holi day, we forget about all the troubles we had among ourselves and we start fresh from now on.”
Amit Gumman, a board member of the Sikh Gurdwara of Oklahoma and the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, said Sikhs celebrate Holi as the start of spring.
“It’s bringing new vision and life force,” he said. “If people have any grievances, they start new.”