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Around Campus

Holi Moli colors campus

Holi came to Carolina in the form of Holi Moli in 2008 in an effort to promote multiculturalism and highlight the campus’ South Asian community.

Powders of blue, pink, yellow, green and orange fall on a crowd of students wearing white shirts

Donning pristine, bright white T-shirts, thousands of Carolina students covered Hooker Fields on April 10 eagerly awaiting the end of a 10-second countdown.

When multi-colored plumes of dust settled minutes later, the image was unrecognizable. The sea of white had transformed into a colorful canvas as students tossed colored powders in the air — and on each other — for UNC-Chapel Hill’s annual Holi Moli event.

“It’s really a time to forget where we all come from on campus and come together,” said Dinesh McCoy, a Holi Moli director.

Hindu YUVA, Sangam, Student Government’s Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach Committee and the Campus Y hosted many-hued event, which drew an estimated 3,000 participants in its seventh year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Carolina students high-five with paint near the end of Holi Moli.

Originating from Hindu tradition, Holi is held every March in many parts of South Asia including India and Nepal to welcome in spring. The tradition has also become known as a festival of colors with participants throwing colored Holi powder called “Gulal,” which covers people from head to toe — leaving them unrecognizable.

“It has become a holiday in South Asian that’s brought together the communities from really all different backgrounds, especially given the independence movement in India and now the abolition of the class systems,” McCoy said.

Holi came to Carolina in the form of Holi Moli in 2008 in an effort to promote multiculturalism and highlight the campus’ South Asian community. Although an ocean from its origin, the Carolina event aims for the same goal — create community unity.

“We invited everyone to partake in this festival to just continue the tradition, raise awareness of the South Asian community in the Triangle and bring the campus together for something that is just fun,” McCoy said.