Ada Scatena (‘31) runs while being hit with a cloud of yellow powder. Scatena said it is essential to celebrate holidays like Holi in order to highlight the greater variety of cultures at Archer. “I think it’s important to learn about different people’s cultures because I think we focus so much on really populated religions and cultures and holidays based off that, like Christmas and Hanukkah,” Scatena said. “So I think it’s really interesting to learn about other community-building holidays.”

Mimmy Goetsch (‘31) and Harper Cox (‘30) embrace in a hug during the celebration. Cox said between the music, friends and “fun environment,” she thoroughly enjoyed the event. “I learned in the presentation about the colors and the materials and stuff like that, but I learned how it feels to be participating in it,” Cox said. “Also, along with the music, I just learned how it goes by experiencing it and not just seeing it in a presentation.”

Covered in colorful powder, Malvika Ganapathy (‘28) poses with other members of the South Asian Club. Ganapathy said she loves that Archer provides the space to be able to teach others about her traditions. “It’s just so nice to be able to teach someone something new about my culture, and just to be able to see different groups of people celebrate it too,” Ganapathy said. “I think there is a lot of value in learning about different cultures and their own experiences.”

Smiling with their hands raised, a group of students at the event pose for a photo. Paloma Lebenzon (‘27) said she has participated in Indian celebrations in the past with her best friend, South Asian Club co-leader Beyla Patil (‘27). “I think we grow because we come to realize and appreciate everybody’s different celebrations,” Lebenzon said, “and learn different ways to support each other.”

A student holds three cups of yellow, blue and red powders. Each powder is a different color, representing different meanings. Ninth grade Dean of Culture, Community and Belonging Stephanie Ferri said when Culture and Communty meetings are paired with outside events, students build stronger bonds within the school. “I love being out there. I love getting the powder and helping support the students and the presentation,” Ferri said. “You can just see it — everyone’s happy, smiling. It was so much fun.”

Cups are refilled with powder in preparation to continue the activity. Not only do students get to immerse themselves in their peers’ culture, but they also have the opportunity to connect across grades, Ferri said. “A lot of times middle school and upper school can be so separate,” Ferri said. “To come together and have middle school and upper school together just celebrating the day, throwing powder, I think it’s awesome.”

Lebenzon and Patil smile, ready to grab another handful of powder. Lebenzon said by immersing yourself in different traditional celebrations, we become more aware of the world and people around us. “My best friend Beyla, I always partake in her Indian activities that she does and I just love it, and I love her culture,” Lebenzon said. “I think it’s really important to learn different cultures as well.”

Freshman Zoe Butler runs from a friend teasing to throw powder at her. Butler said she went into the festival with little to no knowledge about the holiday. “I hadn’t really heard about the celebration before, but I learned that it signifies different things, each color has different representations,” Butler said. “And when we went out there we made sure to throw different colors on eachother. I know there was something about hope and prosperity.”