Holi at SCAD: Where Color Meets Community
Written by Arham Khalid. Photos by Carlyle Kinlaw.
Two weekends ago, SCAD’s campus burst into color as students gathered to celebrate Holi, the iconic Hindu festival of colors. Organized by the SCAD Indian Student Association, the event blended music, laughter and clouds of powdered pigment into a vivid reminder of how culture can bring people together, regardless of background or belief.
Traditionally celebrated across India and other South Asian countries, Holi marks the arrival of spring and the symbolic victory of good over evil. Rooted in Hindu mythology, it recalls the tale of Prahlad and Holika, a narrative of faith, resilience and devotion. But the spirit of Holi has long extended beyond its religious origins.
In India, the festival is a multi-day affair that begins with Holika Dahan, a bonfire night symbolizing the burning away of negativity. The following day, known as Holi, people take to the streets armed with water balloons, colored powder (gulal) and an eagerness to dance, laugh and let go.
At SCAD, that same sentiment carried through. Students covered in color danced to Bollywood beats, tossed handfuls of gulal into the air, and embraced friends both new and old. While the event acknowledged the festival’s religious roots, it was ultimately a celebration of joy, identity and shared experience.
“For me, Holi is the festival of gathering,” said Akshata Shetty, a student at SCAD. “I’ve never looked at it as just a religious holiday. It’s one day where I could go crazy, laugh, dance and be myself with no inhibitions.”
She recalled growing up in India, where Holi was a major celebration in her hometown. “I remember rain dances, food stalls and lots of colors. I miss that. But seeing everyone here enjoy it, it felt like a little piece of home.”
For Shinas Shabaz, another student from India, the festival was more about cultural connection than religious ritual.
“I grew up in Tamil Nadu, where my parents—both Muslims—were part of a largely Hindu community,” she said. “We celebrated Diwali with our neighbors and shared kheer on Eid. That kind of multiculturalism was just part of life.”
Holi, too, holds a special place for her. “Smearing colors isn’t religious; it’s joyful,” she said. “It’s the one day you get to be goofy, let loose and feel closer to where you come from.”
Being far from home, she added, can feel isolating. “But a celebration like this brings people together. It doesn’t matter what religion you follow, sometimes, celebrating itself becomes the connection.”
That sense of connection was exactly what the SCAD Indian Student Association aimed to foster.
“Holi is really special because it’s not just about the religious aspect; it’s about bringing people together and spreading joy,” said Tithi Patel, president of SISA. “At SCAD, where we have students from all over the world, it’s amazing to see how this festival can make everyone feel connected to home, even if they’re thousands of miles away.”
Patel said the goal was to create an inclusive and playful space for everyone. “We wanted every student, regardless of their background, to feel included and experience a little bit of India right here in Savannah,” she said. “Plus, who doesn’t love playing with colors and dancing together?”
As the music faded and the colors settled on the grass and skin, what remained was a vibrant memory, a moment of community that, much like Holi itself, was about more than religion. It was about joy, belonging and the beauty of being human—together.
Photographer’s design instagram: @cekaydesign
