Wholly Holi at the Mentor Public Library

Sometimes, the visuals tell the story better than words ever could.

On Friday, we held our Holi on the Lawn program.

Holi is a religious and cultural holiday that's celebrated in India to commemorate the coming of spring.

Revelers celebrate Holi with bonfires, music, dancing and by throwing brightly colored powder or water at one another.

In the west, Holi is best known for these playful and colorful celebrations. (Hence, Holi also being known as the Festival of Colors.)

Teens had a chance to learn about Indian culture and get messy – really messy – during our program Friday.

But enough words -- here are the pictures.

Before they tossed around any colored powder or water balloons, the teens painted a banner that will hang in the Young Adult section of Mentor Public Library.

Even the painting got messy. Here, Shelby Woodside shows off her Hulk hands.

And then the colored powder and water balloons started flying.

Danni McDonald sprinkles a handful of green powder onto Maria Calderone.

Taylor Crow catches a faceful of red powder.

Eric Brown closes his eyes moments before getting dusted with a handful of purple powder.

Danni McDonald also sprinkled some purple powder on Michael Wilkinson.

Got to love the after shots. Michael Wilkinson and Danni McDonald are all smiles despite being covered in powder and water.

Eric Brown gives his best impression of a Jackson Pollock painting.

Meanwhile, Maria Calderone looks like she's wearing war paint.

Shelby Woodside and Taylor Crow smile for the camera.

In case you're wondering, the banner translates (roughly) to "Relax, it's Holi."

For more programs for teens, kids and adults at Mentor Public Library, visit our website, www.mentorpl.org.

A Whole Lot of Holi at the Library

Teens have a chance to learn about Indian culture and get messy – really messy – during the Holi on the Lawn celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at the Mentor Public Library’s Read House.

If you haven't heard of Holi, it's both a religious and cultural festival in India.

The mythological origin of Holi differs in different parts of India, but it always coincides with the beginning of spring.

The most common origin story for Holi involves an evil king (Hiranyakashipu,) his son (Prahlada, who -- unlike his father -- was an ardent devotee of the Hindu god Vishnu) and daughter (Holika, who took after her father more than her brother.)

Hiranyakashipu wanted to get rid of his son but nothing he did could destroy him, so he enlisted his daughter to take Prahlada with her into a fire. Key detail: Holika had previously been granted a boon that made her immune to fire.

However, despite her boon, Holika was destroyed by the fire. Meanwhile, Prahlada was protected by Vishnu.

Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu, slays Hiranyakashipu while Prahlada watches.

Revelers celebrate Holi with bonfires, music, dancing and by throwing brightly colored powder or water at one another.

In the west, Holi is best known for these playful and colorful celebrations. (Hence, Holi also being known as the Festival of Colors.)

Group celebrating Holi in Vashni, Navi Mumbai, India -- courtesy of Wikimedia

When Meredith Tomeo – the librarian who organized the Holi program for Mentor Public Library – attended American University, they held a Holi celebration every year. She said the festival was fun and it also made her more interested in India and Indian culture.

“I think it will be great for the teens,” Tomeo said of the Holi program. “It’s a good way to learn a little about India, have some fun and get messy.”

Holi is celebrated in February or March in India. However, Northeast Ohio’s climate necessitated a change of date so the teens could celebrate outside.

Tomeo will begin Holi on the Lawn by explaining to the teens what Holi is and why it’s celebrated. Then, there will be music and the same throwing of colored powder that marks Holi celebrations from Mentor to Mumbai.

Holi celebration at the University of New Mexico

Teens are encouraged to wear a white shirt and old clothes because they will get messy.

Holi on the Lawn is free and open to all teenagers. However, registration is required. People can register by calling (440) 255-8811 ext. 216 or on the Mentor Public Library’s web site.

Speak Softly & Carry A Duct-Tape Sword

Our Anime Club made duct-tape swords and shields -- and I think I see a scythe back there -- during their most recent meeting Saturday.

My love for our anime club is pretty well documented here; and, while I hate to feature a club to the exclusion of others, the anime club keeps doing awesome stuff!

At their most recent meeting on Saturday, July 27, they made swords, shields and scythes out of duct tape.

They also perfected their warrior faces.

And they're still wearing costumes. This time, Meagan McLaughlin came dressed as Terezi Pyrope of MS Paint Adventures.

Yes, I had to Google "Pyrope" to make sure I spelled it right.

The Anime Club's next meeting is August 24. They'll be watching one of Hayao Miyazaki's classic Studio Ghibli films. (They haven't decided which one. My vote's for Totoro.) They will also make candy sushi.

Drop by if you like. You can register here.

We have a lot of other fun events for teens coming up in the next week or two, including:

• Storyteller Jim Kleefeld will share macabre and miraculous true stories later today (July 30) during Tales from Beyond.
• We close out our Mentor’s Rock Roots: Celebrating Homegrown Bands concert series with a split performance by Cheap Clone and Hedgehog's Dilemma on July 31. (As you probably guessed from its name, the concert series features bands from in and around Mentor).
• On August 3 (this upcoming Saturday,) teens can compete and win prizes in our Minute-to-Win-It Competition. (Register here and dress for a mess.)
• Then, on August 9, teens can celebrate Holi on our Read House lawn. Holi is a Hindu festival of color in which people celebrate the salvation of Prahlada, a follower of Vishnu who also happens to be the son of the great king of demons. People celebrate by surprising one another with brightly colored paint and powders. (In that way, it's a bit like paintball.) Feel free to join our celebration, but bring a white shirt and old clothes you don't mind getting messy.

You can always check out our event calendar at www.mentorpl.org to see more programs for teens, kids and adults.