REGINA – When Vik Luthra boarded a plane from India to North America a decade ago, he believed he also left part of his culture behind – namely, one his favourite celebrations: Holi.
“I never expected that. Honestly speaking, it is really, really, a great experience,” he said.
Luthra was one of hundreds who threw green, pink, and other assorted colours at others – strangers, in many cases – at the Glencarin Centre today.
“It’s almost as though you’re being rude, but you’re not,” said Todd Duffus, a student at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology.
Holi is celebrated every year to mark the end of winter. The ancient Hindu tradition also acts as a tribute to good overcoming evil.
“Anyone can apply colour on anyone. It doesn’t matter women or men, or poor or rich,” said Mandeep Dhillon, president of the Indian Student Association.
Holi was actually last Monday, but the association waited until the weekend to celebrate.
“I grew up watching a lot of Indian movies, so when I found out that there was an event here, I was like, ‘Why not?’” said Maley Dukuly, a third-year student at the university.
“It’s exhilarating, definitely,” added Dukuly, who was born in Liberia but grew up in Norway.
It’s this amalgam of people that Luthra is especially happy to see.
“You are not mixing colours, you are mixing different religions, cultures, diversities,” he said.
He may be quite a ways from New Delhi, but he feels more at home with each flick of the wrist.
“This is what Canada is, and i love it,” said Luthra.
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