NEW-YORK, USA, April 25, 2005: Anabel Taylor courtyard was battleground for a war of bright green, pink, purple and yellow this weekend, where the Hindu Student Council (HSC) held their annual celebration of Holi, the Indian festival of color, according to this article in Cornell University’s student newspaper. Students, professors and members of the community were given the chance to smear the faces of friends and strangers with colored powder called “gulal,” and enjoy Indian snacks, sweets and music in celebration. The centuries-old tradition of Holi is a celebration of equality. “On Holi, nationality, religion, social status and all other social barriers are broken,” stated Riti Singh ’07, president of HSC. “Politicians and children, royalty and laypeople, and in the case of Cornell University, students and professors ‘play’ Holi together.” Singh said that, by sponsoring the event, HSC hopes to “teach the campus about Indian culture through food, music and active participation.” The crowd that Holi has attracted in past years has always been diverse. Many present on Saturday were non-Indians who had attended Holi in previous years. Others were experiencing the unique excitement and energy for the first time. Wei-Li Woo ’08, expressed enthusiasm and interest in the celebration, jokingly stating the celebration was a “way for creative revenge.”
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