An All-American Holi: Colors, Music, Bhang, Thandai Mark the Festival of Colors

Indian Americans gathered this past weekend to celebrate Holi, the festival of colors. After subdued celebrations in the past two years, this year’s festivities had all the fixings of Holi —family, friends, music and lots of food.

Above and top: Students of the Texas Christian University in Forth Worth celebrate Holi, March 19. The event was organized by The Crew and TCU’s South Asia
Inter-Cultural Association.

From backyards to homes and from parks to temples and community centers, Indian Americans got into the festive spirits as Bollywood music blasted in the background. In the U.S., the festival is more of a social event, where people of all religions come together to celebrate and feast on Holi specialties like ghujiya, bhujiya, malpua, matthi, and puran poli and thandai.

People play with colors and dance to music at the RadhaKrishna Temple in Allen, Texas, during its annual Holi celebration, March 20.

All across America, spring-like weather prompted many like Mamta Thakur of South Brunswick, New Jersey, to host friends to mark the occasion. Dressed in white, friends gathered in the backyard of their home. In Portland, Oregon, Rasika Savkar celebrated with family and friends.

The College of Idaho students celebrate Holi, March 19. The colorful event was hosted by the Asian Student Association and the Interfaith Council.

The largest Holi celebrations are held each year at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah. This year the celebrations will be held on March 26 and 27.

Above and below: Food and fun at Holi celebrations with friends in West Windsor, N.J., March 19.

Vice President Kamala Harris took to Twitter to send her Holi greetings. “Today is a day celebrating joy, positivity, and coming together through vibrant colors. To the South Asian community and those who celebrate–happy Holi!”

Today is a day celebrating joy, positivity, and coming together through vibrant colors. To the South Asian community and those who celebrate–happy Holi!
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) March 18, 2022

Similarly lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congressman Steny Hoyer, House Majority Leader, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Congresswoman Judy Chu among others greeted Indian-Americans and Hindus across the world on the occasion of the festival of colors and said that Holi celebrates love and the triumph of good over evil.

Above: Friends pose for a picture at Holi celebration hosted by the United Indian American Association in collaboration at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, Calif., March 19. Below: Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas celebrate the festival of colors with family and friends at their home in Los Angeles, March 19.

Apple CEO Tim Cook also sent his greetings on the occasion. “Wishing everyone celebrating Holi a vibrant beginning to spring. Here’s to spreading the joy of color with these beautiful images,” Cook said in a tweet as he posted several pictures of the festival of color.

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Wishing everyone celebrating Holi a vibrant beginning to spring. Here’s to spreading the joy of color with these beautiful images #ShotOniPhone13ProMax by @coffeekarma and @rohit_apf. pic.twitter.com/bMx9K1McE2
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) March 18, 2022

Left: Priyanka Chopra Jonas plants a kiss on her husband Nick Jonas’ mouth during Holi celebration at their home in Los Angeles, March 19.

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta celebrated the festival with her husband Gene Goodenough and family and friends with much gaiety. She took to her Instagram handle and gave fans a sneak-peek into her ‘desi’ Holi bash. This year’s Holi marked the duo’s first Holi after becoming parents.

Preity Zinta and her husband Gene Goodenough at their first Holi as parents.

Holi celebration in Foster City, Calif., March 19.

Indian Americans in South Brunswick, New Jersey, take advantage of a gorgeous spring-like day to celebrate Holi with their gym buddies after a sweaty workout on March 18.

Indian Americans douse their friends with colors at a gathering in Foster City, Calif., March 19.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her husband Nick Jonas, also new parents, celebrated Holi.”To be able to find some joy at a time when the world feels so scary is such a blessing,” Chopra, 39, captioned one post. “Happy Holi everyone. Thank you to our friends and family for playing Holi like Desi’s do! Feeling blessed.” She and Jonas, 29, shared a kiss in one cute video while covered in different colors.