Read about the Color Dye-phoon here:
First Color Dye-phoon hits Aragon
To the editors of the Outlook:
First, let’s get this straight: We are not here to take away anyone’s fun of getting smothered in colorful powder; we are just looking at this from the perspective of cultural appropriation, or “Columbusing.” Columbusing is what it sounds like—rediscovering and taking something already discovered. “Columbusing” falls under the phenomenon of cultural appropriation, where elements of one culture are adopted by members of a different cultural group.
Being that America is such a culturally diverse place, why would it be wrong to participate in the traditions of other cultures?
Actually, it’s not—it’s appreciated. However, when blown out of proportion, it can be hurtful. Speaking about empanadas, a South American delicacy that has been appropriated by an international collection of Pinterest users, Brenda Salinas, a columnist for NPR, said, “On face value, it seems stupid to get worked up over an empanada. I mean, it’s just a pastry, right? But ‘discovering’ empanadas on Pinterest and calling them ‘hand pies’ strips empanadas of their cultural context. To all the people who grew up eating empanadas, it can feel like theft.”
The Color Dye-phoon is just another example of cultural appropriation of Indian culture and Hinduism. Around school, there have been many comparisons between the Color Dye-phoon and Holi. While the comparison between the Dye-Phoon and Holi is obvious, as the throwing of colored powder in the air at the Dye-phoon was directly appropriated from the religious festival, the Color Dye-phoon is a bad example of cultural appropriation without accreditation of the original culture.
Due to its international popularity, many do not realize how the Color Dye-phoon strips Holi of its religious meaning and focuses on the “fun” parts for everyone to partake in. Holi is an important part of Hindu culture with its meaning based on some of the Hindu gods, like Krishna and Vishnu. In a real Holi event, color is thrown on people wearing white and having fun, but that “fun” is preceded by a prayer.
The color throwing has a significance, which is to respect Krishna. In India, it is favorable to have light, porcelain skin, but Krishna was envious of his light-skinned peers. When he told his mother about his vexation, she jokingly advised him to change the skin color of his peers. Being a young, mischievous child, he threw powdered colors at all of his family and friends the next day.
Furthermore, during Holi, there is a bonfire prior to the throwing of colored powder. This is to respect a prince named Palhad. Palhad’s father, the King, was an evil man who wanted all his subjects to treat him like a god. Enraged by his father’s requests, Palhad became a devotee of the god Vishnu—who protected him for the rest of his life. The king was infuriated and asked the princess, Holika, to walk into a bonfire with Palhad knowing that she was immune to fire as the consequence of a spell. When Holika did this, she was devoured by the flames as the spell only worked when she was alone in a fire. Palhad, yet again protected by Vishnu, came out of the fire unharmed. To pay respect to this situation, “Holi” is named after the princess “Holika,” and the bonfire accompanied by prayer is in tribute to Palhad.
Hindus should not be the only ones allowed to throw colors, but we do deserve the right to have our religion respected. If anyone partakes in an event inspired by Holi, Hinduism should be recognized and acknowledged. Participants should be informed on Holi’s history and roots instead of throwing color around aimlessly. This is what should have happened at this past week’s Color Dye-phoon.
Just remember: It is great to participate in cultural events as long as you make sure to appreciate, acknowledge, and respect the culture’s values and people.
-Isha Patel and Meghana Gadiraju
