Students excited to usher in Holi on campus

From playing with friends on campus for the first time to hosting house parties, youngsters are all set to celebrate a colourful Holi after a two-year pandemic damper.

Edugraph caught up with students to know more about their festive plans

Holi, the festival of colours, is a much-awaited festival. With the pandemic keeping us indoors for two years, we missed out on all the fun. Unlike last year, when we played with colours at home, this time I am eagerly waiting to celebrate with my college peers for the very first time. We have also planned a short cultural programme at home. We have been busy rehearsing for that. Playing with colours and having a sumptuous meal in the afternoon is like a Holi ritual.

— Soham Bhattacharya, first year, BSc Mathematics, St. Xavier's College, Kolkata

Since diversity is the heartbeat of India, every Indian has a different kind of sentiment for Holi. As the situation has improved a bit and things are becoming normal after the pandemic, students are back to college after a long break. I remember this day two years ago when I was in my first year and the lockdown began right after Holi. This Holi, we, the members of the music club of the college, are going to perform a medley of a few folk and Bollywood songs. I am very excited to spend Basant Utsav on campus, especially because we have missed many such cultural programmes over the past two years.

— Srija Sengupta, third year, BTech, Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata

Holi is one of my favourite festivals. It was very disheartening that I could not play Holi the past two years. I missed sneaking up on neighbours, throwing water balloons on strangers. This year, for the first time, I'll be spending Holi with my partner and also take part in Basanta Utsab in college. Since my first semester is over, I am ready to groove to Balam pickhari.

— Tanusha Raj, first year, BSc, Physiology, Vidyasagar Metropolitan College, Kolkata

Holi — the very word is synonymous with fun, frolic and festivity. The raging pandemic marred celebrations for two. This year, however, with college campuses reopening, I plan to celebrate, albeit with caution. Our entire batch organised Anthesporia, a spring-themed cultural event, to mark the beginning of the celebrations. I will spend Holi with my friends on campus. My day will mostly be filled with lots of food, adda and jamming with friends. In the evening, I have a small family get-together planned. I hope this Holi brings back all the colours, which were wiped off our lives by the pandemic.

— Navonila Sinharay, first year, MBBS, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata

We, the students of the department of Life Sciences, look forward to celebrating Holi with some self-composed musical plays. Other departments are also participating in the festival organised by Presidency University. May the festival of colours enlighten us all. May a hundred flowers bloom this spring. I’m looking forward to my first Holi in college.

— Anubhab Lahiri, first year, BSc, Life Sciences, Presidency University, Kolkata

We are excited about the festival of colours. Every year brings new surprises and experiences. This time I am trying something new. After playing colours in the morning, I have arranged lunch for 50 orphan kids at Singhji Dhaba Langar — a mass kitchen run by a Singh community. I am looking forward to the new experience and also hope we have a safe Holi.

— Jitendra Kumar Roy, first year, BSc, Mathematics, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur

For the past two years, the pandemic has put a hold on our lives. Now, as we are settling back, a few friends will come over to my home. We will play with dry colours.

— Rupanjana Ghosh, first year, BA, English, Loreto College, Kolkata