Students enjoyed a colourful celebration of good over evil as part of the Hindu Holi festival in Weston Park last Wednesday.
The University of Sheffield’s Hindu Society took to the park to enjoy fried food and throw colourful powders and water with each other to participate in the Hindu festival of colours, love and spring.
One of the students who organised the festivities, Rushi, said: “Holi, to me, is a way of celebrating a historic festival in the most fun way possible.
“By throwing colourful powder at friends, dancing to great songs and just having a laugh.”
The festival originates from The Legend of Holika and Prahlad, in which the arrogant king Hiranyakashipu’s plan is foiled by the young Prahlad’s devotion to another being.
Around the world, Holi is celebrated in different ways, but the students of Sheffield put in ‘immense’ work to properly celebrate the festival.
Most of the committee came together earlier in the day to fry all the snacks and package the colourful powders necessary for the activities. Water balloons were also filled in advance to be thrown.
Pranav, a student at University of Sheffield who was at the park when celebrations took place, said: “It was an incredible experience, honestly.
“Taking part in Hindu culture by throwing powder was so fun. Everyone was in such a great mood.”
Though the celebration was organised and led by Hindu Society, the festivities were not exclusive to society members, with the society welcoming anybody willing to participate, Hindu or otherwise.
The Sheffield Hindu Mandir on Buckenham Avenue also celebrated Holi, inviting members and non-members of the temple to attend on Facebook: “Let us come together to celebrate unity, happiness, and the victory of good over evil.”
Those who attended went to the car park and threw colourful powders.
Holi marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring, typically happening towards the end of February and the beginning of March.
The Colour Town Festival also took place on Saturday at Steelyard Kelham, with over 1,500 attendees.
