Flavet Field will be engulfed by a swell of vibrant colors when the Indian festival Holi makes its way to campus for the second annual celebration at UF.
The free event, hosted by UF student organizations, is Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Holi celebrates the coming of spring with colored powder and paint.
Powder-throwing kicks off at 12:30 p.m., said Jannet Mathew, Holi director of the UF Indian Students Association. Those attending the event are encouraged to wear white
Even though social hierarchy still exists in India, people from every caste participate in the holiday, the 20-year-old psychology sophomore said. It’s meant to celebrate diversity.
“In India, Holi is a day where everyone’s position and status within society is equal,” Mathew said. “It’s like starting anew.”
Event organizers handed out Holi tattoos on Turlington Plaza this week to promote the event. The first 500 people who come with a tattoo will receive a free T-shirt, Mathew said.
The Hare Krishnas will cater the event with free spaghetti starting at 11 a.m., said Krishna Lunch director Hanan Schwefel.
“We did it last year for them,” Schwefel said. “It was a lot of fun.”
The Indian Students Association has celebrated Holi within the organization for years, but it has only been shared with the university community once before.
Mathew said association members only expected about 300 people to attend last year. About 1,000 participants ended up attending, and Mathew said she expects to see double of that this year.
Lauren Munsey, a 20-year-old UF public relations junior, said she attended a Holi celebration in Tampa once and plans to go to this event.
“I see pictures of people celebrating Holi, and underneath all the paint, all you see are smiles,” Munsey said. “It’s really beautiful.”
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 3/21/2014 under the headline "UF groups to throw colors at Holi celebration on Saturday"]
