Holi

 

We spoke with Dhruv Mandal, a student in EMU's MA in Biomedicine program, about Holi.

In India, religion and culture are deeply enmeshed. This intertwining extends for many in the Indian diaspora. Often, even those who do not observe Hindu religious customs still immerse themselves in the Hindu culture through mythology, music, and literature. 

Holi is a Hindu religious and cultural festival that celebrates both the victory of good over evil and the love that the god Vishnu shares with his wife. In this spirit of celebration, Holi is also known as the Festival of Colors. Indian people both on the subcontinent and in the diaspora observe the holiday with bonfires and throwing colorful powdered dyes on family and friends. 

Indian and/or Hindu students share how grateful they are to have space on campus to connect to their home cultures. Dhruv Mandal states, “I appreciate my religious culture as a support network. If you don’t keep up with the tradition, it falls by the wayside.” Holi celebrations at EMU can also bring people of all backgrounds together with their Hindu friends for fun festivities.