Splashes of water with flashes of colors and a pair of hands streaking your face: these are the experiences characteristic of Holi, and NYU Abu Dhabi’s celebration this year was no different. For many, this year’s celebration was the first time celebrating Holi, and sentiments were characteristically high. With the event being held a week after the spring break, many people were able to partake in the festivities maintaining a high spirited full day event.

The Holi celebration was organized by TASHAN, a Student Interest Group that aims to inculcate a deeper understanding and appreciation of South Asian culture within the campus. This was opportunity for all students to engage in the traditional Hindu festival of colors, love and spring.

The space above D1 was rife with students armed with water balloons. At other points, an unsuspecting student was occasionally dumped with an entire bucket of water from above them. At the same time, students danced to Bollywood, Indian and Pakistani songs and no one’s originally pristine white clothes were spared from being covered in a deck of hues.

In particular, Holi was an opportunity for students to learn more about a culture they were unfamiliar with. Farzana Haque, Class of 2025 stated that as she was from a Muslim country, this was one of her first experiences with the celebration.

“When we were in the place, we didn’t distinguish between who was from which country…we didn’t distinguish between who was Hindu or Christian or Muslim. We were all together, and it felt like a community,” said Haque.

In addition, the morning session was attended by Vice Chancellor Mariet Westermann and while students were first tentative about whether she could also be covered with dye, she was soon assimilated into the chaos.

Students were encouraged to cover themselves with oil or lotion before dousing themselves with dyes of all colors, but despite this, the remnants of the hues and laughter were visible the next day. Historically, Holi is the celebration of the Hindu god Krishna’s triumph over King Hiranyakashyapu. At NYUAD, the day stands as a microcosm of the values of our campus; celebrating the identities of those around us.