Colored powder was flying in the air on Sunday in Scripps Ranch during a Holi festival put on by a San Diego nonprofit for the first time.
Holi typically is celebrated in March and has origins from Hindu mythology and lore. In parts of India, people light large bonfires the night before to signify a triumph of good and destruction of evil.
Umesh Kapadi, chief finance officer of San Diego Maharashtra Mandal, which organized the event, said that the festival is about “throwing your bad deeds into the fire, the holy fire” and continuing with the good deeds. There was no fire at the San Diego event.
“That’s why we celebrate Holi with colors,” he said.
Holi is celebrated throughout India, and actually comes at the beginning of India’s summer which starts earlier than summer in the United States, said Kapadi, who was born there.
“So we wanted to give the same experience to people living in the United States,” he said.
People attending the event, which was held in Scripps Ranch Community Park, tossed and wiped chalky colored powder onto each other. Kids also ran around with water guns and toy water pumps to spray each other and attendees.
The result? By the end, most people’s clothes were adorned with colorful splashes, especially those who wore white clothing.
San Diego Maharashtra Mandal promotes cultural activities and brings together the Marathi-speaking residents of the San Diego area, according to its website. Marathi is the official state language of Maharashtra, the second-largest state in India by population, according to the University of Chicago.
Kapadi said that it was important for people and the community to come together.
“Celebrate together, they get along together, they know each other,” he said.
The San Diego Holi 2025 Festival of Colors, which was sponsored by Hindu Americans of San Diego, featured several vendors serving food and included dance performances. Festival-goers also danced in front of a DJ booth, which played Bollywood beats.
Juan Garcia, from San Diego, said he worked with people from India, and had traveled there before, and he was interested in the culture. He said they wanted to explore what was being celebrated. Some of his friends from Mexico were also there to experience it.
“We just enjoy, you know, the dancing and throwing the colors and all people, you know, all ages, participate,” he said.
He said he had been to at least three Holi festivals before.
Ambika Marathe, 3, was running around and throwing colors. Her mother, Ketki Sawant, from San Diego, said she wanted to make sure her daughter was in touch with her roots. She said the event also helps her develop socially, helping her let go of anxiety and learn it’s OK to approach people.
“I just wanted her to get a feel of how Holi is celebrated in India,” she said,
Ashish Vorya, from San Diego, said that Holi was a famous festival in India.
His daughter, who is almost 24 months, was at her first Holi. He said it was important for her to learn about the culture.
“Just not the Indian culture, every culture,” he said.
