This festival has proven to be very popular with the international community in Enschede, and so we interviewed Manohar Mandalahalli from Indian Student Association to learn a bit more about this event.
What is the significance of Holi Festival?
‘It signifies the beginning of spring and in India it is usually celebrated in March. It used to be a religious celebration, but it slowly turned into a festival that is celebrated by all the different castes and religions and - in a way - it unites people. Nowadays it is not only celebrated in India, but it has gained more of an international character.’
How does the celebration of Holi festival look?
‘It is basically uncontrolled fun. People play with colors, there is music playing for good mood and different games for people to enjoy. There will also be some Indian snacks served. So people can simply come, buy a color bottle of their choice and have fun with it. We picked colors that are easy to wash off, so people can just enjoy them without spending the whole day in the shower afterwards.’
Can anybody come to the event?
‘Yes. We expect about 100-130 visitors and they will include people from UT, Saxion and Indian community in Enschede. The event will start at 1pm on Saturday and one color bottle and snack will cost 3 EUR. Anybody, who is curious about Indian culture or just wants to have fun, is welcome to come!’
