Holi Festival in South Korea, Geoje Island

Holi is an Indian festival of color that is observed throughout the world. The festival began as a way for lower class Indians to use color to cover their dark skin, something that was looked at as unappealing and stigmatized. I wouldn't have thought I'd be celebrating Holi Festival in South Korea.

Today, it's a celebration of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and is a time to forget, forgive, and repair broken relationships. But really, outside of India, it's just another excuse to drink, dance, and meet other like-minded people.

Holi Festival in South Korea

After arriving at the beach on Geoje Island, where the festival was to be held, I signed up, payed my 10,000 won, and picked up two plastic baggies with blue and yellow chalk inside. In a few hours, I'll be throwing this chalk in the air, rubbing it on people's faces, and completely covered in it myself.

The festival started at 11:00, so I had time to grab a samosa, paint my face, and chill on the sand before the party starts.

Looking so fresh and so clean before the festivities

The music starts playing and people start to congregate in front of the stage, dancing to a mix of Indian tunes and Club Top 50. Soon, the beach is full of people wearing white, ready to get the colors flying.

Powder to the Face

Then the countdown begins, 5-4-3-2-1 Holi Hai! Up in the air flies powder of all colors. Red, yellow, green, blue, pink, orange.

There are three rounds of color explosions, each followed by jumping, chanting and more dancing. The vibe is cool, the energy is positive, and the air is full of color. Conga lines wrap around the beach dance floor, people are hoisted up on shoulders, and hands are up in the air moving to the beat.

While the powder is non-toxic, it still doesn't feel good in your throat, on your teeth or stuck to your face. The powder gets everywhere. And I mean everywhere. My bra was a disaster. I ended up just throwing away my white shirt and leggings, and the shower water was brown for a good 5 minutes before I rinsed all the colors out of my hair and off my skin. The red took a few days to come off completely.

Holi Festival Korea — Colors everywhere at Holi

But this is what made Holi Festival so incredible. The colors, the dirt, the grime and grittiness of it all. It was a warm, sunny day spent dancing barefoot on the beach to good music with kind people. It was a great experience and something I recommend experiencing. Next time in India!