Colours, culture, and celebration: Holi festival lights up Marshgate

Last week, our UCL East campus was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour as over a hundred students gathered around Marshgate to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of love, and unity. Known also as the 'festival of colours', Holi marks the arrival of spring and the end of winter and for many is a time for fun, dancing, singing and vibrant celebrations.

The event, open to students from all backgrounds, was a true testament to the spirit of inclusivity and cultural celebration at UCL. Participants enthusiastically threw vibrant powders into the air, creating a dazzling spectacle that filled the space with laughter, music, and joy. The festival, which signifies the triumph of good over evil, saw students embrace the traditions of Holi in a really heartwarming celebration.

The celebration of Holi at UCL East not only brought people together but also reinforced the importance of shared cultural experiences.

Balraj Dhingra, UCL East Students' Union Manager was thrilled with how the event turned out: 

“It was a pleasure to host our first ever Students' Union Holi celebrations at UCL East this year. The campus provided the perfect space to bring this vibrant event to life, allowing students to celebrate in an exciting and inclusive way. We worked closely with university staff, Newham Borough Council, and local food providers to ensure the event was a memorable one. And we owe a big thank you to the Indian Dance Society for their fantastic flashmob and dance workshop! We hope to grow the event year on year and engage the local community in our celebrations in the future as well! 

The success of the event would not have been possible without the tremendous support of the UCL community, the public engagement team, the ISD team for their invaluable help with the PA system, and our Vinci Facilities staff for their contributions in setting up the event, power supply, and the post-event clean-up.

Check out the Instagram reel created by Ellena, one of our talented BA Media students who covered the event for Students' Union UCL. The reel captures the energy and excitement of the event. Give it a watch and relive some unforgettable moments!