The campus community on April 11 celebrated a Hindu holiday that marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
PHOTO GALLERY: See images from Elon University’s Holi celebration
A large crowd of students danced, laughed and tossed cups of colorful powdered paint into the sky Friday afternoon as Elon University for the third consecutive year celebrated the Hindu festival of Holi.
An estimated 200 people, mostly students but also children and local community members, took part in the Friday afternoon celebration by Speakers Corner on Young Commons, the grassy plot between Moseley Center and the Koury Athletic Center.
The Hindu holiday heralds the arrival of spring and marks the triumph of good over evil. Organized locally by students working with the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual LIfe, festivities featured remarks from campus Hindus and a performance by NCSU Nazaare, a Bollywood fusion dance team from North Carolina State University.
“This is one of the best ways to expose people to Hinduism and Indian culture,” said Yashvi Patel, a junior psychology and international studies double major from Spartanburg, S.C., who took the lead in putting the program together. “Introducing students to different things is best done in fun ways. You’re more willing to learn when it’s not just a lecture.”
The official Holi holiday occurred in March as students were preparing to leave for Spring Break, which is why Patel and her peers in the Truitt Center opted to schedule the campus celebration for mid April.
“The important thing is that we learn while having fun, and we all really needed today,” said Elon University Chaplain Jan Fuller. “We’ve had a long winter, and there’s a sense of community that grows in a celebration like this.”