A splash of color hits Pioneer Courthouse Square as Portland celebrates Holi

Portland’s Pioneer Courthouse Square briefly went from a sea of red brick to a mosaic of color, as hundreds gathered during the weekend for a free festival to celebrate Holi.

In previous years, Holi celebrations have been held in suburbs like Hillsboro. But Prashant Kakad, a local DJ who has staged Holi events in other cities across Oregon and beyond, wanted something in the heart of Portland and for it to be bigger than ever.

Holi is one of the most sacred holidays in Hinduism, celebrating the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It’s perhaps best known as a festival of colors, during which people cover everything in colorful powder.

Kakad said throwing colors unifies people of all backgrounds.

“Holi is one of those festivals that predates the time from which we started documenting history,” Kakad said. “It really blurs societal boundaries, it brings us together.”

While Holi celebrations are not new to Oregon, having it in one of Portland’s most iconic locations was treated as a big deal.

Priya Dhanapal, the city of Portland’s deputy administrator for public works, told the audience it was amazing to see Holi celebrated “in Portland’s living room.”

“This is an immense moment of pride for me to see Holi being celebrated here at this scale,” Dhanapal said. “As you toss your colors today, I hope you also express something else: joy, kindness and respect.”

Those who arrived early participated in a yoga session. Vendors surrounded the festival with various Indian and South Asian cuisines.

But all the festivities were building up to the first color throw — people wearing white shirts lined up to buy dozens of small packets filled with colorful powder. Kakad asked all in attendance to tear open their color packets and raise them in the air.

Then, as music blared in the background, the sky over the square became full of color. Everybody seemed to be dancing, while covering themselves and everyone else in powder.

One attendee, Saurav Singh, said the holiday is all about having fun with other people.

“You see only happy faces here playing with colors,” Singh said.

Drew Becerra left the festival covered head-to-toe in different colors and said it “was a tremendous amount of fun and joy.” He bought extra packets to support the festival for next year.

“It was almost overwhelming, all the powder in the sky,” Becerra said. “It was awesome.”