The Shri Shri Radha Krishna Temple hosted the 2026 Holy Festival of Colors on March 28 and 29.
The festival celebrated the Indian holiday Holi, marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. A central feature of the event is splashing participants with colored powder.
White shirts and bandanas were ready for the colored powder thrown by visitors from across Utah in a vibrant, energetic atmosphere.
Edison Oliveira attended the festival for the first time and found himself caught in the midst of the festivities.
“This is my first time. I really like the festival, the colors and the diversity,” Oliveira said. “I like spring and celebrating it in this way is so cool and exciting.”
For people who have attended in the past, like Deborah Shuck, this year was more exciting thanks to the good weather.
“The weather is much better than last year,” Shuck said. “It’s my second time, it’s awesome, and a fun way for everybody to get out of the house. I think I understand more of what’s going on, so I’m more prepared.”
In the middle of the colorful chaos, Kennedy Baker paused to reflect on the festival.
“I love it. It’s so fun: the vibes, the colors, just everything about it is just like a break from reality,” Baker said. “The community is the best part of everything. Everybody is happy and loves to splash each other with colors. This is not something you get on the street anywhere.”
As attendees left the festival, covered in vibrant colors, they carried with them a joyful reminder of spring’s arrival.