For quick information, parking directions, etc. click here.
The countdown for the wildly popular Festival of Colors is officially
on! In 2 short days, you can find yourself spotted in a rainbow of
colors at the this year's festival. For those still wondering why so
many people have pictures of them drenched in colors every March on
Facebook, here's what you need to know:
In India, Holi announces the arrival of spring and the passing of
winter, and that's part of what the celebration is all about. To get a
little more insight about the symbolism of the festival, click here.
Guests are invited to throw their worries to the wind and join in
celebration of the event. Every nook and corner presents a typically
colorful sight. Young and old alike are covered with colors (red, green,
yellow, blue, black and silver). People in small groups are seen
singing, dancing and throwing colors on each other. Sounds like a
handful of fun, right?
Now for the nitty-gritty details that might help ease your anxiety about
ruining your clothes. The "chalk" provided by the temple is actually colored corn-starch,
so it won't stain. However, it is still not ideal to wear your
"Saturday Best." If the chalk party isn't enough to pull you in, there
is plenty more going on during the celebration. There will be musical
interludes, yoga, mantra, dance, cuisine, the lighting of a bonfire,
and burning of an effigy in between color throws. And plan
accordingly! Colors will be thrown every two hours. This year, you also need to be aware that there is a modest entry fee of $3 per person, and in addition, you may want to buy chalk bags for $2.
Parking also gets packed, as you can imagine. However, there are
shuttle buses that will run from the Spanish Fork Fair Grounds, SF Sport
Complex, and Salem Hills High School that you can ride for $2.
Tips:
- Don't take any strollers, and be mindful if you are bringing children (not highly suggested)
- Register in advance and purchase your chalk online!
- Bring a scarf or some type of a cover to protect your nose and mouth (better safe than sorry)
- Sunglasses aren't a bad idea
- Ride the shuttle! It'll help you beat traffic (foot and car). See the link listed below for more info
- Go with a good attitude and remember that there are a lot of people who want to have a great experience too--so be mindful of that and don't be fussy about tight spaces & traffic
- Be ready for a lot of fun & an experience of a lifetime!
To get directions to parking and find more information on the Festival of Colors, visit http://www.utahvalley.com/events/details.aspx?id=1247. To buy your tickets and color bags (and bulk color bags for a discount) visit https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e6fsuwrd45dd35ee&oseq=&c=&ch=.
We hope you all get out to experience the Festival of Colors! It is definitely an experience that you have to see for yourself.
