WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., October 24, 2023 – The West Liberty University SPICES International Club offered students a colorful event to wrap up midterms. The inaugural Festival of Colors stems from a Hindu festival, Holi, which is celebrated in India and other Indian communities worldwide.
The West Liberty University campus community enjoyed Bollywood music, a photo booth, henna tattoos, and traditional Indian snacks all while tossing colorful powder around the quad.
West Liberty University Zoo Science major Matthew Shuttleworth, said, “The Festival of Colors was an amazing opportunity for students to unwind and get a bit messy and I’m still craving the traditional foods served at this very moment.”
SPICES Club President, Ishika Agarwal, who is from India and coordinated the event, explains the planning for the Festival of Colors, “When thinking of events for campus, Holi was the first one that came to my mind because even though it is a Hindu festival, back home, it is one of the many festivals that celebrates togetherness in a way that sees no bounds – age, color, race, religion, background, etc. At the end of the day, everyone is covered in different colors, no matter what color your skin is underneath or where you belong, everyone is welcome as long as you have a good heart and good intentions. The idea of celebrating it in the Fall, unlike the usual March celebrations in India, was to serve as a reminder that unity and diversity know no seasonal boundaries. I would love to make this event a yearly tradition for WLU because the happiness I saw in everyone’s eyes that day was like something I’d never seen. So, keep an eye out for our second annual Festival of Colors next year, maybe a little earlier for better weather.”
The SPICES International Club thanks all those who made this event possible – The Rollie Williams International Center, Govind’s Restaurant at the Palace of Gold, WLU Student Life, The Center for Arts and Education and SGA.
The WLU SPICES International Club is a student-run club that was formed as a multicultural/international organization that supports the welfare of international students and facilitates interaction between American students and international students at West Liberty University. “The purpose of this club is to organize activities and to promote cultural exchange and understanding among students, staff, and faculty of all nations and members of the local community. Every year the club members along with The Rollie Williams International Center host various events that have become a tradition in the campus community.” adds Ishika Agarwal.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest public university, and it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 12 graduate programs, both online and on campus. Learn more at westliberty.edu.