Queensborough and the AIA Welcome Springtime with Holi/Phagwa Celebration
At Queensborough, springtime can mean only one thing: Holi/Phagwa.
In Indian culture, Holi/Phagwa is a major festival that marks the beginning of the spring season. However, as Dr. Nidhi Gadura, Professor and Chair of the Biological Sciences and Geology department will tell you, there’s more to it than that.
“It signifies the victory of good over evil and marks the spring season full of colors and new life around us! Friends, family and neighbors gather to celebrate with vibrant colors and exchange sweets to show love and goodwill.”
And celebrate we did!
It might have been chilly outside, but you could feel the warmth last Wednesday as everyone came together on the Great Lawn to celebrate Holi with food, drinks, music and copious amounts of gulal, the vibrant colored powder used during the festivities. .
The event was primarily a social affair as friends and colleagues chatted amongst one another, danced and/or ate snacks. In between the socializing was a brief intermission where Dr. Nidhi Gadura, incoming Association of Indians in America (AIA-NY) President Beena Kothari, President Christine Mangino, and more addressed the crowd and highlighted the history of Holi at Queensborough, as well as its cultural significance. Afterwards, it was back to socializing and eating.
That said, the highlight of the event was no doubt the gulal. Traditionally used in various Hindu ceremonies, each color represents something unique, such as red for passion or green for new beginnings. Queensborough embraced this tradition, and while most simply got cute markings on their face, a few others got smeared from head to toe. Amusingly, as this is the third time we’re celebrating the event, a few people came prepared for the worst by wearing inexpensive clothing and plastic raincoats.
All in all, the event was the perfect way for Queensborough to demonstrate its commitment to developing a culture of care. Not only did we hold a large event that allowed our sizable number of Asian/Pacific Islander students to feel at home, but the event also gave students of different backgrounds the chance to learn about a new culture.
On top of that, this year’s celebration was a special one.
Why? It was the result of a collaboration with the Association of Indians in America (AIA-NY) — one of the oldest Indian-American organizations in the United States, established in 1967.
In the past, Holi was sponsored by the SGA. However, during a visit to campus a few months ago, the AIA learned that we celebrate Holi and Diwali on campus, and wanted to join the fun.
As a result, everything at this year’s celebration except for the gulal was provided by the AIA.
“Queens has a vibrant Indian-American population, and QCC has shown great interest in fostering cross-cultural exchange.” said AIA President Beena Kothari. “Collaborating allows us to celebrate Indian heritage while contributing to the larger community.”
And this won’t be the last time we see the AIA.
They don’t view Holi as a one-time occurrence. In fact, citing our commitment to “accessibility & affordability, strong leadership & vision, and opportunities for collaboration,” they hope to maintain a long-term relationship with Queensborough.
“Our collaboration with QCC is not just a one-time effort—we see this as a long-term partnership that will continue to evolve based on student and community needs. We look forward to building bridges between cultures, empowering students, and contributing to a brighter future.”
Photo Gallery: Holi/Phagwa Celebration
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