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Spring 2021 Holi Celebration at Johns Hopkins University HSC

This past Spring semester, the Johns Hopkins HSC chapter held an event in April to celebrate Holi in a safe and engaging way. Holi is a Hindu festival that commemorates the changing of seasons and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. In previous years at Hopkins, Holi has been a fun, community building event for both Hindus and non-Hindus alike. We wanted to continue spreading the joy of Holi, while also teaching the Hopkins community about Hindu traditions. We held an in-person, socially-distanced, outdoor event where students could tie-dye a shirt, place their handprint on a banner, and decorate the sidewalk with colorful chalk with their friends and fellow peers.

Additionally, while Holi is a Hindu holiday, by having the event open to all, JHU HSC encouraged all students to participate, learn, and engage. Our Holi event also allowed students to take a break from studying to let loose, and enjoy an afternoon outdoors with friends while engaging in active learning about a culture that originated halfway across the world! Students were able to express their culture and interact with their peers to promote civic discourse. In addition to the activities, we also had an online campaign that included information on the cultural and religious significance of Holi.