Photo Feature: Indian Students Celebrate Holi Festival Of Colours On Campus

Published on: 20 Mar, 2022
Updated on: 20 Mar, 2022

By Hugh Coakley

Indian students were exuberantly celebrating Holi, the Festival of colours, in the bright spring sunshine on the University of Surrey campus this weekend (March 19).

Around 250 young people laughed, danced and sang next to the university lake to the booming mix of Bollywood, South Indian and bhangra music.

Dancing, laughing and singing at the Holi festival at the university.

Around 250 students came to the festival organised by the Indian Students Association.

There was a call that the samosas were free. This laughing student came away with her free prize.

Second from the left, president of the Indian Students Association at the university, Shrey Sharia, said numbers of Indian students at the university had risen from 450 to around 1,000 in the last four years.

All part of the fun.

Dancing to the Bollywood, South Indian and bhangra music.

Getting covered with coloured powders celebrating Holi on the university campus.

Getting into the swing

Joining in the fun

Chaplain Meeta Joshi said the festival of colours reminds us that life is full of exuberance and we should live it to the full, with love, compassion and friendship.

And these cool dudes are doing their best to “live it to the full”.

Chaplain, Meeta Joshi writes: “Holi is a festival of colours, reminding us that life is full of exuberance and we should live it to the full, with love, compassion and friendship while celebrating the diverse roles and responsibilities that life throws our way.

“In India, I vividly recall young and old, and people of all faiths and none, always overlooked differences and came together on Holi. The beauty of this festival is its charming ability to transform strangers to friends – any passers-by would invariably get splashed with vibrant colours – and its inherent potential to embrace all cultures, classes, religions and genders.

“Holi is celebrated for two days; the first is Holika Dahan, when you discard negative thoughts and start life afresh with the advent of spring. Communities come together to celebrate the victory of good over evil while singing, dancing and taking blessings from the holy fire of Holi. Dhuleti is the second day, celebrated through colours. This day serves as a metaphor that, much like a rainbow, we should experience all the colours that life has to offer.

“Holi festival has gained a secular momentum in the UK, with friends of all origins enjoying the colours, food, dancing and singing. At Surrey, the Indian Students Association’s Holi-inspired festival of colours – which usually takes place in May – is very popular, as a celebration of community and togetherness.”