What to Expect?
Its probably evident from the pictures and videos on the page, yet its worth stating again. Holi is celebrated with colors, literally "WITH" colors. You splash colors on each other.
Lafayette Holi will feature colors, a lot of colors, dry colors, wet colors, and all colors of colors. The color we will use is called "Gulal". This particular variety is made of food grade corn starch mixed with food coloring and fragrance. The colors are non-hazardous.
Besides colors, the festival will have music and dance. Unlike Cajun festivals held in Girard Park, Lafayette Holi will feature Bollywood music and dancing. Be prepared to enact a "Grease"-like dancing to Bollywood tunes.
There will also be Indian food sold at very modest prices. There will also be pizza, Kona-ice cream truck, Sub Zero Ice Cream, and beer.
Don't forget to checkout our "Holi Survival Guide" page. It's worth emphasizing. By the time the festival is done you are likely to be full of colors and very likely to be all wet. The "Holi Survival Guide" provides some guidance on how to prepare for it.
Holi Survival Guide
Lafayette Holi Festival will have dry colors, wet colors, and water guns. The color play will be restricted to the 'color zone.' While its possible some adults may withhold the temptation to become kids, it is much harder for kids to act adults. Please follow these tips as you head to the festival. They are definitely important should you be accompanying any children. However, count on the possibility that you may get tempted to join the festivity, and be prepared.
- Wear white, good canvas for colors.
- Wear clothes you do not mind throwing away. They may get stained.
- Children would likely get wet. Its recommended they be in swimwear.
- Bring towels, and quick change wear.
- Bring allergy medication, if you need.
- Bring hand and face wipes, to clean up afterwards.
- Eye protection -- sunglasses, especially if you wear contacts.
- Bring spare contacts, eye drops.
- Hair protection -- bandana, shower cap.
- Cover your car seats to protect after the event.
- Picnic chairs are welcome.
- Dust off all the dry color from hair and body before getting in shower. Some colors stain when wet. If using camera, protect its lens from colors.
CAUTION: Some people have reported their hair and skin to be stained for several weeks after the color play. The manufacturer has suggested that this could be due to the colors being wet, and recommended that people concerned with such stains play with dry color only and they dust-off the colors before shower.
How to “Play” Holi?
Holi is "played." It is played by spraying and smearing colors on others. Packets of dry colors, called Gulal, will be available for sale at the festival. Gulal is a very smooth powder, made by mixing food coloring in food grade corn starch.
Color Zone
The color play stays in the "color zone." There are people who may wish to enjoy watching the festive celebration, but not get colors on themselves. Its important that we grant them the space. Should you wish to only observe, and not play colors, please do not enter the zone. Its always a good idea to enough buffer space, so that you are not caught in the middle of a color fight.
Kid's zone
This year there will be a distinct area for children. In order to ensure that there was enough space to create a distinct children's area, the festival location has been moved to a different part of Girard Park--the area closer to UL Alumni Center.
The children's area will be for children and their parents. The children area will also have water and water guns. Water will be restricted to children's area due to logistics constraints and due to safety concerns raised by the Lafayette Park Police.
Protocol for playing with colors
How you splash or smear colors on others depend on the level of familiarity with the person. Between friends and family almost anything (acceptable in public) goes. You may take a handful of color and smear it on your friend's head, face, and neck. For those you know, but are not real close to make physical contact, you may take a pinch of color and smear on their forehead or cheek. For complete strangers, smile, say Happy Holi, and put colors only if the other person accepts.
The festival will feature color throw and color dance, accompanied to Bollywood music. So make sure you have plenty of colors with you.
Caution: Please do not throw colors at someone's face. It is not fun when colors go in ones eyes, mouth, or nose. It can instantly turn a fun filled day into a disaster, and you would not wish that to your family and friends. Happy Holi!!!