Name: A Festival of Colors: Holi Moli!
Start: 2026-04-18T13:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-04-18T15:00:00-05:00
Location: Uptown Circle

NCHS' South Asian Performing Arts Club and NCHS' Asian American & Pacific Islander Students are proud to present: A Festival of Colors: Holi Moli!
Every spring, the Indian subcontinent celebrates the two-day festival called Holi. With origins in Hindu mythology, the festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring after a cold winter. During the festival of Holi, it is customary to throw colored powder on family and friends to show love and respect for one another, a tradition that represents togetherness, friendship and a prospering community.
Colorful powders will be thrown to celebrate, and participants are encouraged to wear white clothing for maximum display of bright colors. Admission and color packets are FREE of charge.
Attendees can expect a celebration in Uptown Circle on Saturday, April 18 from 1-3pm, through live music and food from a local restaurant! Make sure to bring money for food!
Schedule is TBA so check back soon!
This event is a collaboration between the NCHS South Asian Performing Arts club, NCHS' Asian American & Pacific Islander Students, Town of Normal, Children's Discovery Museum, Illinois Art Station, McLean County Museum of History, the Bloomington-Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Indian Student Association at Illinois State University. We hope to see you there!
Questions? Contact Papachya Borrull at [email protected] or 309-336-6178.

More About the Origins of Holi:
In Hindu mythology, Holi is associated with the tale of Hiranyakashipu (He-rUn-yeah-kUsh-yeah-pu), a demon king in ancient India who with his sister Holika’s help tried to K*ll his son, Prahlada, a devotee of Lord Vishnu (the Indian god representing preservation). Hiranyakashipu did not accept that his son worshiped someone other than him, which is why he ordered his sister to K*ll his son. Holika had received a boon where she would be unharmed by fire, so she used that to her advantage. One day, Holika had Prahlada sit on her lap as they were both sitting atop a fire pyre. Prahlada was chanting Vishnu’s name, which ultimately saved him. As for Holika, she was incinerated in the fire. This faithful legend has remained in Hindu culture for many generations and marks Holi's first tradition: praying to fire on the day before the festival of colors. The second day is a celebration of the eternal love between Lord Krishna and Radha , two of the most well known deities in Hindu culture. The tradition of throwing colored powder was started by Lord Krishna, who smeared color on Radha’s face so the two would appear the same, since Krishna is known to have blue skin. Now, this lighthearted joke is celebrated across India to represent Radha and Krishna’s playful love and affection.