Inclusive Celebrations at USN: Holi
USN student Eesha Nachnani ‘28 and parent Kamal Tahiliani (Syra ‘29 and Ariya ‘31) explained the origins of Holi and how some of our USN families are marking the occasion. Click here to help us recognize the many holidays and cultural observances celebrated within the USN community.
By Ian Dinkins, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
When is Holi?
Friday, March 14, 2025
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What’s the holiday?
Holi
Holi
When is Holi?
Friday, March 14, 2025
Background on Holi
"Holi is known as the festival of colors where Hindus rejoice and embrace each other with colored powder and wish one another by saying Holi Hai!, which translates to it's Holi!," said Kamal. "Holi marks the arrival of spring and the beginning of the harvest season. It's usually around March based on the Hindu Lunar calendar."
According to Eesha Nachnani ‘28, Holi also symbolizes equality.
“Krishna is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu and Radha is his wife,” said Eesha. “This story also revolves around breaking down social barriers as Krishna is often depicted with dark skin, and Radha has fair skin, so throwing colors symbolizes that skin color doesn't matter and that everyone should be equal.”
Holi is usually associated with throwing powdered colors at others. It also includes eating traditional sweets, such as gujiyas, which are sweet fried dumplings stuffed with dry fruits and milk.
What are the traditions associated with Holi?
“On Holi, many families visit the Shri Ganesha temple in Nashville or any other temple to pay their respects to the gods,” said Eesha. “Often, most temples have their own Holi celebration, during which friends and family can come and play Holi together.
"The beautiful significance of Holi for me, is the symbolism of coming together in unity," said Kamal. "India is a very culturally rich and diverse country in which over 1600 languages/dialects are spoken by more than 1.45 billion residents. Imagine the beauty of the festival, where no matter what region or part of India you are from, everyone comes together the same way, and all the colors of Holi come together to signify that we are one. "
"The beautiful significance of Holi for me, is the symbolism of coming together in unity," said Kamal. "India is a very culturally rich and diverse country in which over 1600 languages/dialects are spoken by more than 1.45 billion residents. Imagine the beauty of the festival, where no matter what region or part of India you are from, everyone comes together the same way, and all the colors of Holi come together to signify that we are one. "
How does the Nachnani family celebrate?
“Our family celebrates by going to the temple and doing a pooja,” said Eesha. “Many of our friends like to host Holi parties which we attend and play Holi with our friends.”
What is a recipe for a traditional Holi dish?
Playing Holi usually involves throwing water balloons at others and sharing food. Partygoers typically wear white clothes, so the color shows up more, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
How is USN celebrating Holi?
This year, the USN Shakti Club, a K-12 club for students who want to celebrate and learn about Hindi culture, is performing at the Cheekwood Holi festival. You can click this link to buy tickets for the Holi festival.How is USN celebrating Holi?
What is a recipe for a traditional Holi dish?
Chai is a typical Indian drink that is always a crowd favorite.
Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups of water
- 2 teaspoons of grounded tea leaves
- 1/2 cup of milk
- Sugar (How much is up to you)
Steps:
1. Get a pot and put it on the stovetop
2. Put the water in and set it to high
3. Next put in the grounded tea leaves until it starts boiling
4. Then add the milk and the sugar as needed
5. Once the entire mixture boils again, turn off the stove
6. The Chai can be served after straining to remove the ground tea leaves
A big thank you to Eesha Nachnani ‘28 and Kamal Tahiliani for sharing their Holi traditions with us.
The Office of Marketing & Communications is making a concerted effort to recognize the many holidays and cultural observances the USN community celebrates. Click here to let us know the holidays and cultural observances you would like to help others in the USN community learn about this year.
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Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.