UMD Holi Festival (Final Project)

The University of Maryland's Hindu Students Council (HSC) executive committee sits in for a meeting on Wednesday, 10 April 2019. They are finalising the event flow as well as tightening up wet weather contingency plans.

 Prachi Gaur, the Vice President of HSC smiles as the meeting ends on a happy note.

The team meets up at McKeldin Mall at 10.50 A.M to set up. Boxes of colored powder are being put side by side for easy distribution.

The team also put up trash bags to prevent as much litter as possible.

HSC executive committee member, Dhivyan Karunakaran hangs up a makeshift event poster.

The HSC executive committee poses for a group photo before kicking off their event.

HSC executive committee members, Andrew, Chinmayi and Shivanee take turns distributing the colored powder.

They pour the colored powder into the palms of the attendees before they start throwing it at their friends. This is done to ration the amount of colored powder.

Holi, known as the “Festival of Love,” or the “Festival of Colors,” is traditionally celebrated in India and Nepal. It ushers in spring each March in a celebration of the end of the dark days of winter. Common colors used are red, blue, green, yellow and pink.

Traditionally, Holi symbolizes the defeat of an evil king, Hiranyakashipu, and his equally evil sister, Holika, who attempted to set her young nephew, Prahlada, afire. Therefore, it symbolizes the defeat of evil and the triumph of all that is good.

Although this was a Hindu cultural and religious event, people of all cultures and religions were invited.

Music and Performance PHD student, Kei Sugiyama takes out his GoPro to snap a selfie.

Most students can be seen taking a selfie to show off their colorful faces.

A student decides to be creative and attempts a backflip with colored powder in his hands.

Civil Engineering Sophomores, Samantha Engler and Calvin Penaflor attempting to clap hands with powder in their hands.

Electrical Engineering Freshman, Chris Scalzi and Physics Freshman, Ela Rockefellow complete a colored clap.

The colored powders did not stop Chris from taking his phone out to snap a picture. 

UMD Exchange students Hemanth, Megan, Sanjay and Stephen jumping up and releasing their powders in unison.

Computer Science senior, Benny Chang and friends jump up and release their colored powders into the air.

Kushal Vanodia, also known as DJ KUSH glances at his laptop while he continues to mix up music for the event attendees.

Everyone's faces became their own personal art canvas.

HSC committee members, Udit and Shivanee showers pink and blue powder over the event attendees.

As the event slowly comes to an end, students run towards the McKeldin water fountain to take a dip in the cold water. 

Computer Science Sophomore, Aditya srinivasan takes an enjoyable dip into the fountains.

You know it's a great event when even UMD's iconic Testudo gets all colored up too.

Featured photo on Unwind Magazine