Holi – Resources and Policies
Holi, often referred to as the “Festival of Colors,” is a multi-day, Hindu festival celebrating the start of spring, which is the season of hope and new beginnings. Holi falls on the full moon day (Purnima) between the end of February and the middle of March (month of Phalgun), according to the Hindu lunar calendar. This year Holi begins on March 3rd, 2026.
The first evening is known as Holi Purnima (the Holi full moon) and usually involves a bonfire as people gather around to sing and dance in
hopes of overcoming negativity by getting rid of unsatisfactory thoughts and deeds from the previous year. On the next day, people of all ages wear white to throw colored powder (gulal) or colored water (pani) at one another. Color plays a powerful role in Holi, symbolizing joy, renewal, and the arrival of spring. As vibrant powders are shared, social boundaries fade, representing unity, equality, and the belief that everyone is the same beneath the color. The celebration becomes a reminder of connection, forgiveness, and fresh beginnings.
In the evening, everyone gets together with their family and friends to enjoy festive foods, sweets, and companionship.
Hindu temples are decorated with bright colors and the deities are decorated with glittering jewels and clothing. With a theme of harmony and new beginnings, Holi encourages people to renew our efforts at becoming decent human beings—reflect on our past misdeeds, improve our routines and interactions, and continue making progress in life.
Policies and Guidelines for Instructors
Existing religious observances academic policy note that:
- Instructors should announce early in the semester that your students must notify you within the first two weeks of class of the specific days or dates on which they request relief. Including this information on your course syllabus is encouraged, to make sure your students are informed of the policy.
- Make‑ups may be scheduled before or after the regularly scheduled requirements.
- It is understood that instructors may set reasonable limits on the total number of days claimed by any one student. Occasionally, students may not fully understand the necessity for prior notice, and under these circumstances we urge you to be as flexible as possible. Our policy seeks to be sensitive to the needs of individual students.
With the above policies in mind, instructors should follow these guidelines:
- Proactively plan ahead to avoid conflicts between examinations or major course activities and religious observances, when possible.
- A non-exhaustive list of cultural, religious, and ethinc holidays is provided by the Office of the Secretary of the Faculty. Additional observances may exist that are not included on this list.
- You can also add religious observances to your Outlook calendar.
- Communicate with your students early (e.g., mention in your course syllabi and class announcements), and highlight the shared responsibility – students are responsible for notifying instructors within the first two weeks of classes of the date(s) on which they request relief due to a religious observance.
- Accept students’ requests at face value.
- Be prepared to offer students alternative pathways to fulfill course requirements (including class attendance) in cases where conflicts can’t be avoided.
Students can use this template to connect with professors to request flexibility on classwork or evening exams.