Just after school at 3:30 on April 16, the South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) hosted a celebration in the courtyard for Holi. Over a hundred students attended, and the courtyard was full of bright colors. SASA is the Upper School Affinity group for any student of South Asian Descent – countries widely considered “South Asian” India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan. For SASA leaders, the eventcarried significance beyond the color and crowds. “It’s really special that we celebrate Holi with the whole school at Parker,” senior and SASA Head Lia Bahri said. “I loved that we could bring the whole community together through a cultural fun celebration that many people in America probably don’t know much about.” The festival’s presence at Parker is testament to its deep historical roots and modern evolution.
Holi is one of Hinduism’s oldest and most celebrated festivals, tracing its roots back over two millennia to early religious texts like the Puranas. The holiday celebrates two stories in Hindu mythology: the divine love of gods Radha and Krishna and the story of a young man named Prahalad whose faith triumphed over evil. Prahalad was the son of demon king Hiranyakashipu, and was despite this a devoted follower of the Hindu lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashipu tried to force Prahalad to stop worshipping Vishnu, and when Prahalad refused, Hiranyakashipu attempted to murder him. Lord Vishnu stepped in to save Prahalad from being murdered by the demon king’s sister Holika, the namesake of the holiday. Today, as Bahri mentioned, the festival is recognized worldwide for its colorful and vibrant celebrations and inclusive atmosphere. The tradition of Holi has grown to be celebrated as a global celebration of the coming of spring.
In addition to sponsoring the school Holi celebration, the affinity group also presents a yearly MX on Diwali, and they host lunches throughout the school year for all South Asian Parker students.
Pulling off a community event as engaging and lively as Holi requires immense planning. “The event only lasts thirty minutes, but the planning is surprisingly a lot,” Assistant School Principal and SASA faculty sponsor Priyanka Rupani said. “We have to reserve the spaces, and we have to further think about how we are serving food, getting the colored powder, and getting the white shirts. In addition to this, we need to think about who is going – parents, Parker PM, students — and how that changes our preparation.”
Parker students saw all of this preparation pay off on Wednesday, as the courtyard was filled with the smiles and cheers of many students across different backgrounds. To each student in the courtyard Holi meant something different, but to all it was an enjoyable experience. “Since I was little in Los Angeles with people celebrating on the beaches, I got to see how powerful this holiday can be when its joy is shared. What makes Holi so beautiful for me is it doesn’t feel limited to Hindu people, and as we see today, it can be enjoyed by everyone,” Junior SASA member Ayan Chawla said.
For that thirty minute window on the Wednesday afternoon, students of all backgrounds got to experience the beauty of Holi that Chawla described. More than just a religious celebration, Holi is a celebration of life and joy, and as Parker saw on Wednesday, Holi is a celebration for all.
