June 9, 2013

 photo holi-festival-9_zpsdbc6aad8.jpg photo holi-festival-4_zpsce4a7606.jpg photo holi-festival-6_zps6b856f12.jpg photo holi-festival-7_zpsa96fb58b.jpg photo holi-festival-8_zps711e1146.jpg photo holi-festival-3_zpsa6af0099.jpg  photo holi-festival-2_zps70bde2c8.jpg photo holi-festival-1-cheers_zps9ace6bc5.gif [first picture by Gosia Perz, some pictures by me, some by unknown photographers during the event]

Holi is an exuberant Indian festival of colors. It celebrates the start of spring and has a religious origin. Throwing colored powders at each other is one of the traditions of the festival: for a moment you cannot distinguish caste or skin color, as everyone is ‘equally colored’.

I have a weak spot for Indian culture ever since I spent half a year there before going to university. During my time in India, I just missed the Holi celebrations though. So I have been on the lookout for something similar in The Netherlands. Lucky for me Holi has gained an immense popularity around the world; including events like color runs, color dance festivals and color anything it seems. Anyway, Friday must have been my lucky day. Just a few hours before it started, I heard there would be a Holi festival on campus. So guess what I did Friday? ;)

It was great. The atmosphere was filled with fun and excitement. There was music, people dancing, people trying to catch on to Indian dance moves and a lot of color and friendly attacks on random strangers.

I vote for more events like this. It was awesome! Did you ever celebrate Holi?

20 Comments

  • Reply

    Flo.

    June 9, 2013 at 13:36

    It looks like so much fun!

  • Reply

    Anne Lien

    June 9, 2013 at 15:38

    Ah so cool! I’ve never celebrated Holi.. Maybe I should start celebrating this year! :)

  • Reply

    Kristin

    June 9, 2013 at 21:26

    Oh my goodness, that looks amazing!

  • Reply

    Franca

    June 10, 2013 at 08:53

    I always love the looks of these colour things, and I didn’t know it was an indian tradition, how lovely!

    • Reply

      Magical Day Dream

      June 18, 2013 at 21:53

      Yea it is: pretty cool huh. There was a group of an international student association behind it :)

  • Reply

    Laura Beth

    June 10, 2013 at 11:29

    Marielle, you look very “at home” at such a celebration!

    @perchedonawhim.org

  • Reply

    Monica

    June 10, 2013 at 13:03

    I’ve seen photos of this event and really love the message that it carries. So cool that you had the chance to experience it first hand. I would love to. Amazing colorful images too.

  • Reply

    floating thru fields

    June 12, 2013 at 02:17

    I’ve heard of color runs… glad you got to have fun with color :)
    great pics :)

  • Reply

    Beckie

    June 17, 2013 at 01:57

    I’m so jealous! I found out about these kinds of things maybe a year or so ago and totally wanted to take part in one ever since. I found a color run, but decided I wasn’t in nearly good enough shape to take part, so I cancelled. But I am ever-so determined to make it happen someday soon! It looks like you had a blast too. And I love that everyone looks like got quite a bit of color on them. I love it all : ]

    I also love the line drawing you did between yours and your boyfriend’s house! So clever, creative, and just plain awesome!!

    • Reply

      Magical Day Dream

      June 18, 2013 at 21:57

      The colour did come off quite easily when moving and dancing. I think I have been all different colours during the event and back to a vaguely stained white shirt again haha.

      I seriously was in so much pain 2 days later from the muscles that I normally never use haha. But, totally worth it!

  • Reply

    Sofia Miacis

    June 19, 2013 at 11:13

    Ahahahah I just had last weekend a Color Run! It’s totally amazing! We can forget for a bit for life and have fun and b crazy!

    Kisses
    Sofia G

    • Reply

      Magical Day Dream

      June 19, 2013 at 21:06

      That sounds amazing! I did run half a marathon once, but there were no colours involved. Bet it was great!

  • Reply

    Alex and Arthur

    June 20, 2013 at 19:32

    That looks like so much fun! I wish I could be that colourful all the time.

    • Reply

      Magical Day Dream

      June 21, 2013 at 17:18

      Well, you can buy ridiculously colourful clothes of course ;) Or paint them that way!

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