SOAR (Students Organizing Against Racism) hosted a celebration for Holi, a Hindu festival known as the Festival of Colors, Love, and Spring, for elementary students on March 13. Students engaged in a Holi-themed quiz competition and a t-shirt tie-dye event.

The afternoon kicked off with a presentation on Holi’s significance and its traditions, followed by a Kahoot quiz to test students’ knowledge. The event offered an engaging space to connect cultural learning with hands-on experiences. “At the start of the event, we did a quiz about the tradition and it was a fun time learning about it,” said fourth-grader Phoebe Long. 

In the tie-dye activity, students created their original t-shirts. “My favorite activity was the tie-dye because it was fun coloring my shirt with red and blue. I hope we can do it again next year,” fourth-grader Ellie Joe said. 

Unlike previous years, SOAR did not include the traditional color-throwing powder event due to concerns regarding cultural appropriation. “We talked to the admin and we were notified that we can’t do the powder event this year due to cultural appropriation,” SOAR secretary Jio Kim said. 

Students walked away with colorful shirts, new knowledge, and a deeper appreciation for Holi’s traditions. The blend of education and creativity formulated into a day of meaningful cultural exploration.

Gallery • 10 Photos

Jessica Woo

With diverse colors that promote the Holi culture, each tie-dye creation carries its distinctive meaning. The students embody the joy of the festival and take their creations to cherish the culture.