The Indian festival of Holi, that of throwing colors and water ( adapted to modern times to include using hoses and water guns) is one I’d heard about years ago, and was excited to find a local celebration of this year on a date I could attend. The Asha Stanford club put together this fun event on the Sandhill Fields on the Stanford University campus with the goal of raising even more money for children in India than was raised last year when over 5,000 people participated.
With my camera wrapped in plastic so as not to be coated with color and water, I eagerly walked around taking photos of action and reaction of groups of people throwing and smearing colors everywhere. Some of the participants seemed happy to be getting color on them (above) and others like this woman ran scared as if chased by a movie monster.
Participants, who were told to wear old clothes that could get dirty on the advertisements, were met by volunteers who made sure to get color on them even before they set foot on the field. Some of the people entering returned the favor as well.
There were two main color stations were colors could be taken. Visitors returned again and again eager to spread the colors all over the crowd. These little kids both in green, look like they don’t have too much color on them, however, I’m sure that was soon changed. There was a separate children’s area, however, many kids were on the larger field with their familes.
All sorts of strategies of color throwing was employed, from directly aiming it people, to randomly throwing it into the air and letting the wind take and spread the color.
From the youngest kids (many of whom were very active color throwers and water sprayers) to the Stanford Security officers, no one was safe from getting colors all over them.
Also during the event the large dance troupe, Dance Identity, came out in small groups and performed to many traditional Indian songs. This group was very energetic.
by Danielle Stolman
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