For one sunny afternoon on Saturday, April 27, the BHS courtyard above the stadium was transformed into a burst of colors, music and laughter as students, families and community members gathered to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors.
In the Hindu religion, Holi is the joyous occasion that marks the end of winter and the start of spring, a time of rebirth and renewal.
The school’s Indian American affinity group hosted the event, in which music filled the air, kids ran around tossing colored powder and conversations sparked between people from all walks of life.
Phones came out, photos were snapped and memories were made.
But the celebration was more than just a party; it was a cultural experience aimed at bringing people together, honoring tradition and spreading joy.
Holi holds personal meaning for senior Raghav Iyer. He spent much of the afternoon volunteering and helping pass out food to guests.
“Holi is one of the main Hindu holidays, so it is nice for me to celebrate it after so long,” he said. “A lot of Hindu celebrations aren’t done in America, whether it is due to people having to go to work or not enough Indian people to plan an event, so it is nice to celebrate it.”
Holi is known as the ‘festival of colors,’ and it is traditional for people to wear white and throw colored powder or colored water at one another.
Senior Max Jacob was struck by the energy the moment he arrived.
“The first thing I noticed was the vibrant atmosphere,” he said. “Everyone was smiling, there was music playing, and the bursts of color in the air immediately made it feel festive and welcoming.”
While Jacobs wasn’t part of the planning team, he still got involved.
“I participated as a vendor selling handmade cutting boards,” he said. “It was a great way to be involved and support the community aspect of the celebration.”
Both Iyer and Jacobs took photos of the celebration.
“[My photos] show the throwing of colors, which is central to the celebration of Holi, and all sorts of people participating in them,” Iyer said.
“I took a few pictures of the colorful powder throws and kids running around having fun,” Jacobs said. “One of my favorites is a candid shot of a group mid-throw. It perfectly captures the energy and joy of the moment.”
Iyer added that the only real issue was the wind.
“The only [challenge] was that we needed weights to hold everything down and not let it be blown away in the wind,” he said.
Both students reflected on what Holi brought to the school community.
“It opens people up to new traditions and perspectives,” Jacobs said. “Celebrating Holi at school helps build inclusivity and respect for different cultures, which strengthens the overall sense of community.”
Iyer agreed.
“Celebrating Holi and sharing that celebration increases more awareness of other festivals not celebrated in the United States, and that increased awareness encourages more people, whether Indian or not, to also participate in these celebrations.”
Jacobs recalled one standout moment from the celebration.
“There was a moment when everyone gathered for the big color toss,” he said. “Watching all those colors fly into the air at once was breathtaking. It really felt like everyone was connected at that moment.”
Both Iyer and Jacobs feel that cultural events are important.
“Events like this bring people together in a fun and meaningful way,” Jacobs said.
“I’d love to see more cultural festivals or maybe an international food fair next, something that continues to celebrate the diversity in our community.” Iyer added, “I would love for Beachwood to have more events like this so we can celebrate different cultures and get together for reasons other than academics.”
Jacobs described the event as joyful.
“From start to finish, there was this constant feeling of happiness and community,” he said. “Everyone was there to celebrate, learn and enjoy the day together.”
Iyer felt the event was comforting.
“It reminded me of the celebrations back in India, and I was very happy to see both Indian people and non Indian people participate and have fun,” he said.
