Editors Note: Some sources’ names have been redacted for safety and privacy concerns. City on a Hill Press is committed to maintaining the safety of international students. 

On most days, Oakes Lower Lawn is the ideal image of calm, quiet serenity. The lawn sits far away from the bustle of campus life, and those who lounge on the grassy field can hear the soft rustle of trees. 

In stark contrast, clouds of color flooded the scenery on April 5, coating the landscape in a vibrant mix of pink, orange, blue and green. Groups of students danced and sang to Bollywood music while others chased their friends, throwing handfuls of dyed cornstarch. Around 400 attendees gathered throughout the course of the day in celebration of UC Santa Cruz’s ninth annual Holi festival, organized by UCSC’s Indian Student Association (ISA). 

“When you’re in college, you’re away from your family, you’re away from a lot of your cultural groups,” said Sneha Kuppili, the Holi director for UCSC’s Indian Student Association (ISA). “Having a place [in college] where you can celebrate something that you would usually have with your parents, your siblings, your cousins, your family friends is really nice. It makes campus feel a little bit smaller and it makes home feel a little closer.”

Holi is a major Hindu festival that usually occurs in March or April, marking the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It celebrates the fertility, vibrancy and rejuvenation of nature that spring brings, as well as the triumph of good over evil, which is symbolized by an emphasis on color throughout the festival.

“We want to do our best to bring [Indian] events to our campus in a way that’s accessible to everybody, and brings fun [to students] away from home,” said Sonia Salunke, a co-president of ISA. “It brings a little piece of our culture and heritage to them. That’s our whole purpose.” 

Akshitha Nagaraj, a UCSC student and Holi attendee, expressed her thoughts regarding the influence of Indian clubs on students and the Indian community.

“We have a lot of Indian clubs on campus that are dedicated toward [diversifying campus], so I think [UCSC is] doing a pretty good job right now,” Keskar said. “In general, it’s nice to see a celebration that’s predominantly Indian and being held on the campus.” 

Holi is celebrated in many ways across different parts of India, and specific traditions vary by region. While some areas emphasize cuisine, others feature martial arts, and others include large, two-sided hand drums, dholaks, as the primary soundtrack for dancing.

An anonymous international student from Bengaluru, India, reflected on their experiences celebrating Holi at home compared to UCSC’s Holi festival. 

“Let’s just say that this is ten percent of what happens [in India]. Temples are full of color, food, and prayers. For South India, it’s a lot less about the colors, but more about the food and the traditions,” the student said. “But the second you go up North, the colors really hit you in the face …. I feel like I’m biased, since I grew up [in the South]. [But] it’s a lot more community-oriented. Instead of just blasting colors in your faces, you’re getting a chance to talk, to eat together.”  

During the festival, three UCSC Indian dance groups, Kahaani, Apna Virsa and UCSC’s Giddha team, performed to Bollywood-fusion style music. After the performances, attendees continued chatting and dancing until the event ended in the early evening.

Members of ISA are continuing to host events throughout the year, looking to spread Indian traditions on campus and make UCSC feel more like home. Their next event, ISA’s annual culture show, will take place on April 19.

As UCSC’s annual Holi celebration nears its 10th anniversary, Kuppili hopes to lift ticket limitations from 200 per session to 300, bringing Holi’s total capacity to 600 attendees. ISA looks to continue its legacy and expand its celebration on campus even further, fostering a welcoming space for the Indian community.

“When you look left and right and you don’t see people that look like you, it’s hard,” Salunke said. “But it really just takes one person that shares the same interest as you [to realize] there’s always community somewhere.”

Additional Reporting by Makena Louise Johnson.