Students revel in colorful powder, enrich Holi traditions at SASA event
Attendees of the South Asian Student Association's Holi celebration on Saturday use bags of brightly-colored powder to throw at each other. The holiday marks the start of spring on the last full moon of Phalguna. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
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No one who stepped on the Women’s Building field on Saturday afternoon was safe.
Armed with Ziploc bags full of powder of all colors, Syracuse University senior Timothy Plewak was out to get everyone. Already covered himself, Plewak’s only goal was to smother everyone in powder.
“I’m pushing all the buttons I possibly can. No one’s kicked me off yet. This is great,” Plewak said.
On Saturday afternoon, the South Asian Student Association held its annual Holi celebration outside the Women’s Building. One of the biggest celebrations in Hinduism, Holi marks the start of spring by throwing powder on one another. Celebrated on the last full moon of Phalguna, the twelfth and last month in the Hindu Lunar Calendar, Holi typically takes place around March.
However, SASA celebrates Holi in April since Syracuse is generally still cold in March, SASA president Halie Patel said. Though Holi is a religious holiday that uses colorful power to symbolize the triumph of good over evil, she said Saturday’s event was open to everyone, no matter their religious beliefs.
“It’s a really great time to just have people come together and have fun, that’s the aspect of (Holi),” Patel said.
This year, SASA’s Holi celebration faced new challenges due to SU’s budget cuts, Patel said. Instead of having a larger-scale operation with a tent, tables and balloon arches, the event was completely outdoors, offering free T-shirts and powder. Despite the changes, the event drew around 100 attendees throughout the four-hour celebration.
Growing up in India, SU freshman Kaveri Deepak celebrated Holi many times. Similarly, SU sophomore Navya Neelamegam has never missed Holi. Both Deepak and Neelamegam said when they came to campus, they were concerned whether or not they’d be able to celebrate the event at SU, especially for Neelamegam, a transfer student from India.
“In India, Holi is very normalized. I was concerned that I won’t be able to connect to my culture, Neelamegam said. “So coming here is kind of like reuniting with my hometown.”
Three Syracuse University students get covered in dry powder at the South Asian Student Association’s Holi event. Typical Holi celebrations feature balloons filled with watered-down colored powder. Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
Holi is typically celebrated by throwing balloons filled with watered-down colored powder, whereas SASA’s event used dry powder. Still, SASA’s Holi drew a strong crowd.
Plewak and his four friends were walking down the street when they saw the event being set up. Plewak started the chain of events and kicked off the celebration, covering everyone in his vicinity with powder, including Deepak and Neelamegam.
Even with an injured leg, Deepak still ran around the field throwing colored powder at friends and strangers. Neelamegam said she formed new friendships at the event, something she doesn’t normally do as a self-described shy and reserved person.
“I’ve met so many new friends. That’s really a high for me, because I’m (an) introvert, so talking to people is crazy for me. But coming here, I’ve met a lot of people,” Neelamegam said.
In attending and organizing the Holi celebration, Patel said she’s reconnected with her roots while expanding her friend circle throughout the four years she’s attended Holi at SU. She sees recognizing the holiday at SU as a chance to raise awareness of cultural holidays that aren’t as prominent in the United States.
Holi’s vibrance helps other ethnicities learn more about the celebration and other religious traditions, Patel said. Especially in a predominantly white institution like SU, Holi offers people a chance to become accustomed with other holidays in Hinduism, Patel said.
“I’ve had an amazing time in Holi for the past four years, being able to make friends that are beyond this university. For me, it’s just being able to find that community and have a really nice ending towards the year,” Patel said.
