Each year, the South courtyard atmosphere is transformed for a day, filled with yellow, green, and red powders as well as laughter from the members of its South Asian Student Association (SASA), which is preparing for this year’s annual celebration of Holi on March 14, Sejal Schullo, Social Studies Teacher and SASA sponsor, said.

Holi is a Northern Indian holiday that honors the traditional religious story as well as the rebirth of spring, Schullo explained. The members of SASA gather to celebrate the day together.

Holi’s recognition in the community has significantly increased over time, and SASA’s yearly celebration has aided the growth of the holiday, Schullo said.

“SASA increases awareness in the South community about South Asian culture,” Schullo said. “Our second biggest event [throughout the year] is Holi.”

Holi’s roots lie in a traditional story of an evil king who displeased the deities. His son later uses his ruling power for good, demonstrating renewal of good in the world; therefore, Holi is celebrated in the Spring when the earth is renewed, sophomore Maina Chander said.

“[Holi] is all about getting closer with family and spending time with family,” Chander said. “It’s a fun time that also marks the arrival of spring as well as like the triumph of good over evil from our past history.”

One way Chander celebrates Holi is by spending time at temple with her family to reflect on the meaning of the holiday.

“My grandparents and older relatives cherish going to the temple and admire the more religious aspect of [Holi],” Chander said.

The original celebration of Holi involved a large bonfire, with people returning the following morning to throw the ashes of the extinguished flame, the BBC reported. While the bonfire is still a part of the first night of celebration today, colored powder is now thrown in place of the ashes, the BBC explained. These colored powders are part of what make the holiday so special and memorable, and one of Chandler’s favorite Holi memories is an especially messy one.

“[One year] we went to the park with two of our family friends and it started raining while we were running around throwing colors on each other,” Chander said. “[The rain] just made it more fun because we were all in the rain outside just enjoying time with each other.”

Additionally, there are several public Holi celebrations in the Chicagoland area, with a significant one in Naperville, Schullo said.

“The students think that it’s one of the most memorable things that they do.” Schullo said. “Other schools have started to do it because we did it first.”

Not only do Holi celebrants honor the holiday, they bring together all the celebrants in unity and equality, Schullo explained. Before the colored powders are thrown, the community comes together in plain white clothing. By looking at individual people you can’t tell anyone’s social or economic status, which allows everyone to truly focus on the celebration itself, Schullo said.

“By the end, you all look like big old rainbows, and everybody’s the same,” Schullo said.

The sense of unity is not only created for those who are Hindu, but everyone in the community who joins in learning and celebrating the holiday, regardless of the religion they affiliate with, Schullo said. Schullo pointed out that at its core Hinduism is an inclusive religion; there are not any tests to be a Hindu, and the holidays are the same way. If people want to celebrate Holi with an intent to learn and honor it, then they can.

“That’s what makes diversity great,” Schullo said. “We can learn from each other and celebrate each other’s amazing things.”