The Festival of Colors is an annual celebration of the Holi Festival, an ancient Hindu celebration that recognizes the love of Radha Krishna, as well as the triumph of good over evil. The Holi Festival originated in India but has now spread worldwide.

The Festival of Colors at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple has taken place since 1989, and is a popular destination for Holi celebrations among locals and those traveling from out of Utah. At the festival, attendees throw colorful cornstarch powder into the air, listen to live music, chant and dance.

According to Charu Das, coordinator for the Festival of Colors, the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple is expecting 10,000 attendees over the course of this year’s festival.

On Saturday, the celebration will start at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m., and on Sunday the celebration will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Musicians Mikey Pauker, Ananda Groove, TK & Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe and more will perform, along with Bollywood and Bhakti dance performances and yoga instruction. Vegetarian cuisine will also be available on-site for purchase.

“I think it will be as much fun as it always is, but even a little more new and educational as well,” Das said. “We’ve also got some Indian classical dance that we haven’t had for a long time. We’re bringing that back a little bit, a breather from all the high energy dancing so people can sit down for 20 minutes on the hillside, catch their breath and watch beautiful grace and movement on the stage.”

Das has coordinated and attended many color festivals over the years, but what keeps him excited about his work is the transformative experience the festivals can be for others.

“It’s evolutionary, transformational. I’m 75 myself and at the end of each day’s event 15, 16, 17-year-olds come up to me they want a high-five they want their picture taken with me, they want to get a hug,” Das said. “There’s some seeds that have been planted there that are going to change their lives for the better, and really for someone on the way out there’s nothing more gratifying than to think that you’ve given a little help to people that are just on the threshold of their lives.”

Tips for attending the Festival of Colors from the festival website:

• Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stained.
• Avoid throwing colors into the eyes or mouths of others.
• Avoid wearing contacts to a color event.
• Colors not purchased directly from the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple will be confiscated.
• Bring a change of clothes or plastic seat covers for the journey home.
• Avoid the middle of the crowd while colors are being thrown unless you have a covering over your nose and mouth. Small children should not enter the middle of the crowd.

Those with asthma or other respiratory issues should wear a mask, or avoid color events altogether and those allergic to cornstarch are encouraged to avoid color events. However, they are still safe to participate in the rest of the festival.

For more information on the Festival of Colors or to purchase tickets for this event, people can visit https://festivalofcolorsusa.ticketspice.com/holi-fest-of-colors-spanish-fork.