LOCAL FESTIVALS, INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIPS

HOW EXPATS IN INDIA CAN FIND NEW WAYS TO CONNECT DURING HOLI AND BEYOND

Cultural festivals are one of the best parts of exploring a new city or country. They usually involve joyful traditions and are embedded in the region’s history — think of Oktoberfest in Munich or Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

In India, it’s the time of year for the colorful celebration of Holi. This iconic festival is celebrated a bit differently depending on where you go in India. But it usually involves throwing colored powder, music, and dancing.

Whether you are in India for a visit or if you live there as an expat, there is so much you can learn about the culture and people if you experience Holi festivities firsthand. You can gain unique insights into local traditions and how they fit into the fabric of local life.

Of course, this year is a bit different due to the pandemic. But you can find ways to learn about Holi and share cultural experiences with an international community of expats.

The Festival of Holi

Holi celebrates the beginning of spring and the victory of good over evil. It takes place according to the Hindu lunar calendar, on the day after the full moon in March, so the dates will vary each year. First there’s Holika Dahan, where bonfires are lit to burn away evil spirits. Holi is the next morning — a day of fun with smearing colorful paint on faces and pouring colored water or dancing under sprinklers.

Enjoying Culture in Challenging Times

This year, Holi celebrations might be impacted by COVID-19 regulations. And as an expat during a pandemic — with restrictions on socializing and travel — settling in and enjoying the fun aspects of local culture can be especially challenging. You may be lonelier than you expected and not feel like you have many options to socialize. You may feel you’re missing out on many of the exciting experiences you were dreaming of when you decided to move. And this could affect how much you enjoy your international experience

overall. That’s why it’s a great time to embrace the spirit of Holi — which is all about letting go of the negative and celebrating new beginnings — and look forward to the future.

New Opportunities to Connect

The more you connect with other international people, the easier the adjustment to living abroad in India will be — even during the pandemic. That’s why joining InterNations, the largest network for expats with over 4 million members in 420 cities worldwide, is a great option for expats in India. It’s a friendly and welcoming community where you can meet both fellow expats and globally minded locals. You can find ways to connect online and in person (wherever possible), and you’ll feel at home more quickly.

Ask Your Expat Network

To find the best places to celebrate Holi and get insider tips, the InterNations Forum for each community in India — Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Pune — will have the answers you’re looking for. In fact, you can ask anything you’re curious about, including Holi or any other expatrelated topics you want to know more about, such as the best places to live, international schools, or where to buy your favorite products from home.

Discover Events Year Round

Whether you want to celebrate popular festivals and holidays with like-minded people — from Holi to New Year’s Eve — or network professionally, you can find events and experiences of all kinds at InterNations, all year round. There are larger networking events, sometimes with seasonal themes, where expats can meet and get to know each other. If you’d rather meet people while practicing your hobbies, InterNations Groups offer many interest-based activities. There’s something for everyone, including sports, wellness, movies, learning languages, and more.

Go Virtual

Where socializing in person is not possible, InterNations members can connect through a variety of online events. For example, the New Delhi Games Group recently hosted a Weekend Games Night for members via Zoom. In Pune, members of the Pune Changemakers Group got together online to discuss how to bring positive change to the world. What’s more, you can also find global online events that bring members together from all over the world for virtual travel experiences, webinars, and more.

Make New Friends

Over time, by venturing out to connect either online or in person, you’ll make some close friends. This will help you to settle in more quickly and have a more enjoyable experience abroad. And while it’s hard to say when life will return to normal, in the meantime you can let Holi inspire you to connect with the local and international community in India.