QUICK FACTS
WHAT IS HOLI?
Holi, also known as the festival of colors, is a Hindu tradition that celebrates love, community, and the arrival of spring.
Holi represents various religious narratives that celebrate the triumph of good over evil. In one of these anecdotes, a prince named Prahlad refuses to obey his father, who commanded his subjects to worship him. Instead, Prahlad continues to worship Lord Vishnu. In anger, Holika, the king’s sister, attempts to kill Prahlad for his disobedience, but she fails to defeat him and instead harms herself.
Holi represents various religious narratives that celebrate the triumph of good over evil. In one of these anecdotes, a prince named Prahlad refuses to obey his father, who commanded his subjects to worship him. Instead, Prahlad continues to worship Lord Vishnu. In anger, Holika, the king’s sister, attempts to kill Prahlad for his disobedience, but she fails to defeat him and instead harms herself.
WHY IS HOLI CELEBRATED?
Holi is historically celebrated for the commencement of the harvest season. In the current day, the celebrations have grown to encompass love and color in festivals.
WHERE IS HOLI CELEBRATED?
Holi is celebrated around the world by both Hindus and non-Hindus alike. Celebrated throughout South Asia, the festival of Holi unites communities divided by social, religious, and cultural barriers.
At UNC, we celebrate Holi for the same reason—to connect our campus and celebrate our community.
At UNC, we celebrate Holi for the same reason—to connect our campus and celebrate our community.
HOW IS HOLI CELEBRATED?
Holi is most popularly celebrated through a festival in which a community gathers together and throws traditional, colored Holi powder (Gulal).
The History of Holi @ UNC
Holi was first celebrated on campus in 2008 by Hindu Yuva as an event for its members. In 2009, The UNC Campus Y began to collaborate with Yuva to make it a campus wide event. In this process, Yuva and The Campus Y approached Sangam and Student Government to take part as well.