Celebrating Holi in the Workplace
Looking for a quick, actionable way to celebrate Holi at work? This post gives you a fast, DIY DEI tip you can apply right now.
Holi, often called the “Festival of Colors,” is a Hindu celebration marking the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. It’s known for joyful gatherings, throwing of colored powders (gulal), and sweet treats—but Holi also carries deep cultural, religious, and regional meaning for millions of South Asians around the world.
In the workplace, Holi is a chance to honor South Asian identity with more than just photo ops or color runs. It’s about cultural respect, joy, and real inclusion. Here’s why that matters.
Why This Holiday Matters
In the Workplace, We Can Use Holi to Celebrate Without Stereotypes. There’s more to Holi than paint and parties. Here’s how this holiday connects to meaningful DEI:
✅ It affirms South Asian employees’ traditions as worthy of the same visibility and respect as Western holidays.
✅ It challenges the tendency to reduce cultural celebrations to food, fun, or festival tropes.
✅ It invites deeper conversations about religion, caste, migration, and how culture is practiced in diaspora.
✅ It reminds us that joyful inclusion is still real inclusion—when done with intention.
Celebrating Holi with care builds trust, connection, and cultural humility.
One Inclusive Celebration Idea
Try this inclusive activity to mark Holi at work:
Host a “Holi in My Words” Employee Spotlight
Here’s how:
- Invite South Asian employees (voluntarily) to share what Holi means to them—through a quote, photo, reflection, or short video.
- Share spotlights internally across email, Slack, or your company intranet.
- Include context about Holi’s religious and regional diversity—it’s celebrated differently across India, Nepal, and the diaspora.
- Avoid stereotypical imagery (e.g., white hands tossing colored powder) and center real voices instead.
This adds depth to celebration—and shows your team values culture, not caricature.
Ready to explore more workplace-ready tips? Keep reading.
Ready for More?
Would you like a more detailed celebration guide for this holiday? Join our Free Community Here Inside, you’ll find DIY DEI guides, a full diversity calendar, and practical tools to help you build an inclusive workplace—without overwhelm.
Pause & Reflect
How can your workplace celebrate cultural holidays with real respect—not just themed events?
