Students dressed in white, dancing, laughing, and tossing colors at Sand Hill Fields on the afternoon of May 9th to celebrate the annual Indian Holi festival.
The celebration, organized by Asha for Education—a nonprofit organization at Stanford University—was to raise money for the underprivileged education in India.
More than $80,000 will be sent to India’s nonprofit organizations, millions in Indian currency, according to event organizer Akash Shah.
Beyond fundraising, many students said the celebration also served as a way to share Indian culture and strengthen connections across different communities at Stanford University.
Participants from a wide range of cultural backgrounds joined the festival, describing Holi as a celebration of identity, belonging, and unity.
“ This is like a great substitute for being so far away from home,” said Ishvi Mathal, a participant from Stanford University. “It is really lovely to share a little bit of our culture with all of our classmates and non-Indian [or Hindu] people, ”
Like Mathal, many say that this annual tradition is not only a colorful festival, but also a shared space for cultural exchange, friendship, and community across races and nations.
The afternoon gathering was one of three sessions held throughout the day.
Participants throw color power at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)An event organizer gives out colored powder at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)Color powders are seen at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)A participant drinks a bottle of beer at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)A participant attends the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)Participants throw color power at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)Participants attend the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)Participants celebrate the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)A participant throws color powder at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)Participants dance along with the music at the annual Indian Holi celebration on Stanford University campus on May 9, 2026. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/Peninsula Press)
Ziyu (Julian) Zhu is a multimedia journalist born and raised in Beijing, China. He earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism from Boston University in May 2025. With a passion for photography since middle school, Julian focused on his studies in photojournalism during his time at BU. Since 2023, Julian has worked as a freelance photographer for China Xinhua News Agency, covering major news events around the Greater Boston area and the New England region, and from June to August 2024, Julian interned at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a multimedia journalist. Julian received multiple recognitions for his works, including a finalist in the Spot News category at the College Photographer of the Year (CPOY) contest in October 2024, and a Best in Show award at the Boston Press Photographers Association’s (BPPA) Annual College Student Photography Contest in April 2023, etc. Some of Julian’s works have also been reprinted in major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Rolling Stones, and The Associated Press. At Stanford, Julian plans to deepen his research in visual journalism and multimedia storytelling, exploring how photo and video journalism can shape public understanding. He looks forward to working under the mentorship of Stanford’s expert faculty and contributing to campus news and media services. In his free time, Julian enjoys reading, analog photography, and Legos.
Juliette Whittaker, from Laurel, Maryland, is a senior at Stanford University majoring in Science, Technology, and Society with a concentration in Communications and Media as well as minoring in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity. She is interested in multimedia storytelling and reporting that explores the intersections of sports, culture, and community. As both a student journalist and athlete, she is passionate about telling stories (specifically those that are overlooked) that highlight human experiences and connect with diverse audiences.
