Holi 2023, Festival of Colors, This Saturday at Wilson Park

Friends of India

Friends of India invites all students to come and celebrate Holi (the Festival of Colors)! The event is near the gazebo in Wilson Park on April 22, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friends of India invites all students to come and celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors! The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 22, near the gazebo in Wilson Park. We will be celebrating with colors, snacks and delicious food. Each student will get an assorted sweet box to take home as well! The event is free for all students but RSVP on HogSync is recommended.  

Holi, an important festival from Indian subcontinent, is popularly referred to as the festival of colors. After the cold winters, it marks the arrival of spring. It is a joyous festival, as the day commemorates the triumph of good over evil. According to one of the legends, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Narsimha avatar (half human, half lion) and saved his devotee Prahlad from the demon king Hiranyakashyapu. It is a two-day festival where, on the first night, which is the Poornima (full moon day) of Phalgun month of the Hindu calendar (which falls somewhere in March), Holika dahan (a bonfire) is arranged. People pray and dance around the bonfire. The next day is called Dhuleti, where people joyfully throw colorful water or dry vibrant colored powder on each other. On this day, people forget their differences and embrace others. People sing and dance jubilantly on streets and neighborhood and enjoy with friends, family and any passerby. After the colorful celebration, they eat many delicacies like gujia and puran poli, specially made for the occasion. 

This event is supported by the Student Activities Fee as a funded event by the Associated Student Government and is free to all currently enrolled University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, students who pay the student activities fee. This event is held in a venue that meets ADA standards. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend this event. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Apoorva Bisht at abisht@uark.edu, 479-575-5255 by five business days prior to the event.