Photo Friday: Festivals as bright as spring
Holi is a Hindi festival of colors celebrated in spring. This year is the first year students at Ohio University added the playing of Holi (throwing of colored powder) to their annual Holi cultural celebration.Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
Spring is well known for the natural blooming of colors that arrives every year at this time, though in some places across the world this blooming of color gets a little boost from local celebrations. Ohio University is lucky to be a gathering place for not only students who want to share their traditions, but also students who are interested in learning about traditions apart from their own. This spring was especially colorful with celebrations of India’s Holi, a festival of colors, hosted by the Ohio University Indian Student Association, and Japan’s Sakura Matsuri, the cherry blossom festival which is hosted by Ohio University’s Japanese Student Association. If you didn’t get a chance to experience these festivals first hand here are some photos for a second hand look. Enjoy and be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s celebrations!
As explained by Bhakti Shah, a member of Ohio University's Indian Student Association, the playing of colors is a means of erasing differences among people. Sumali Hewage and Maria Rodionova are among the first group of students to take advantage of the opportunity to erase differences between themselves and their fellow students with the use of flour dyed using food coloring. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
In addition to playing Holi, students take a chance to play games such as a modified 'duck-duck-goose'. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
Dancing "Punjabi"; a story of star crossed lovers during Indian Culture Night held in Baker Center ballroom. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
Colorful costumes worn by various female performers. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
Ana Luttrell, a volunteer at this year's Sakura Festival, putting some finishing touches on the stage decorations. The Sakura Festival celebrates the transition to spring as marked by the blooming sakura or cherry blossoms. This year is the tenth annual celebration put on by the Japanese Student Association. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
Students rehearsing their parts of this year's skit which told of the importance of friendship and telling the truth. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
A common sight at cultural festivals, even those celebrated abroad, is the use of traditional clothing. Happi coats are customarily worn by individuals performing or in some way helping host a festival. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
Noboyuki Tanaka and Fujiko Sawtarie, members of Bethany College Taiko Club, preform during this year's Sakura Festival. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares
Students from both Ohio University and Chubu University performing "Soran Bushi" which tells the story of fishermen at work. Photo by CG Photo Editor Elizabeth Linares.
