Annual Festival of Colors in Spanish Fork to continue honoring Hindu tradition
A tradition observed in India for thousands of years, the Holi festival became relevant in the United States when the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork hosted its Festival of Colors in 1989.
Thirty-six years later, this holiday recognizing the Hindu God Lord Krishna and the start of spring is celebrated through large color festivals all over the country, from San Francisco to Houston and New York City.
However, what is believed to be the largest North American festival remains in Spanish Fork. Its founder, Caru Das, expects approximately 10,000 attendees to attend this year’s festival on Saturday and Sunday, despite rain being in the forecast.
“I think probably we’re the ones that spearheaded it to art, from the Indian community exclusively to the Western community as well,” said Das, who is also the president of the Spanish Fork Krishna Temple.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It costs $10 to attend and is free for kids 12 and younger. Colored chalk will be available for purchase.
Between the colored chalk throws at the top of every hour, the onstage performances, the yoga and the “cruelty-free food,” Das believes the event serves as a spiritually uplifting experience in a fun and energetic way.
“I don’t think you’ll find anything that’s as spiritual as this is and yet as popular. It’s kind of in a category by itself,” he said. “We started it because we want people to get in touch with their spiritual selves. And we feel that society in general is in a drought. People are lost. They’re kind of, as the poet said, ‘Living lives of quiet despair because they haven’t learned who they really are in the deepest sense of the word.'”
At the festival, drugs and alcohol are prohibited, partisanship and contention should be avoided, and meat is not permitted out of respect for the spirit of all living creatures, Das said.
The chalk’s colors resemble the blossoming seeds that are sprouting forth after the dormant winter; the chalk’s perfume — often smelling like sandalwood, musk or jasmine — reflects the fragrance of the season.
It’s a season of renewal, offering a chance for personal renewal.
“I like to coach people and tell them to think of the colors as this baggage they’ve been carrying, resentments, bitterness, and just get rid of it. Just don’t carry it anymore in the journey of life,” Das said.
Between the chalk throws each hour, live entertainment will be presented. Several Bollywood dance groups will put on performances that may involve audience participation. Two Krishna bands will perform, one that is rock ‘n’ roll and another that Das calls “adult contemporary,” and there will be several Krishna rap performances.
“We have a couple of hip hop, rap Krishna artists that will also be performing,” Das said. “And I’m probably the oldest Krishna rapper on the planet. I’m 78 and I’m the MC and I do at least one or two rap songs in between each and every performing group.”
Attendees are encouraged to wear clothes that can be ruined and to bring sunglasses to protect their eyes and a scarf or bandana to protect their nose and mouth. People are advised to avoid throwing colors in the eye or mouth.
And regardless of what the weather looks like Saturday and Sunday, the event will go on.
“If this was the first time we were doing it, we’d be all on pins and needles,” Das said about the weather. “We’ve been doing this for 30 years, and it’s like, been there, done that. And also it’s interesting to note that in India, they do use water. We never use water because we don’t want anyone to catch a cold in this climate. But if nature’s going to provide water, then we’ll just see it as a more authentic spiritual experience.”
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- A festivalgoer crowd surfs as a band performs during the Holi Festival of Colors held Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork. An estimated 10,000 people from Utah and beyond attended the annual Hindu cultural celebration, according to Advaita Das, assistant manager of the Holi Festival of Colors. This image won second place in the feature photography category within the 10,000-29,999 print circulation range in the SPJ’s “Top of the Rockies” 2020 contest.
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- Festivalgoers throw cornstarch colors into the air as a band performs during the Holi Festival of Colors held Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork.
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- Malini, a Bhakti Fusion dancer, performs during the Holi Festival of Colors at the Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
