Nashville Hindus Celebrate Spring With Holi

By John Partipilo and Holly McCall, Tennessee Lookout

March 21, 2022

Members of Nashville’s Hindu community celebrated the coming of Spring over the weekend with Holi, a Hindu holiday also known as the Festival of Spring, the Festival of Colors or the Festival of Love.

About 400 people gathered at Sri Saibaba Temple in Antioch, dancing and splashing each other with colored powder dye. Pink, blue, red, yellow and green dye was everywhere, covering faces, clothes, hair and arms.

“The celebrants throw or paint each other with colored powder. There is much joyous laughter and celebration,” said Sany Shastoui, the priest at Sri Saibaba. “Don’t worry: People will not come up to you and deliberately start covering you with colors–but watch out for the children!”

Photojournalist John Partipilo, who documented the event, said it was “quite an experience.”

“I managed to get my face painted along with a camera and some lenses but the powder comes off fairly easily,” Partipilo said. “I should have listened to the warnings about the children!”

Click here to see photos of the event.

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