Penn State Worthington Scranton was alive with color last week as students, staff and faculty celebrated the Hindu spring festival of Holi.
Known as the Festival of Colors or the Festival of Love, Holi is a joyous event where people throw colored powder at each other to signify the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter, as well as a festive day to meet others, play, laugh, forgive and forget, and repair ruptured relationships.
While it has been primarily observed in India, Nepal and other regions of the world with significant populations of Hindus and people of Indian origin, the festival has, in recent times, spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love.
Worthington Scranton's Diversity Committee has sponsored the event for the past three years, and it has continued to grow in popularity with the campus community, with students, staff and faculty participating. Dr. Parminder Parmar, Asociate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, was the driving force in starting the annual celebration of Holi at the campus and has been an active organizer and participant each year, along with other members of the Diversity Committee.
In the photos above, upper left corner, a group of students help to prepare and distribute the dried colored powder to the Holi participants; in the upper right corner, the throwing of colors begins; in lower left corner, some of the participants pose for a shot after the event; and in lower right corner, are three students enjoying the event.
