Colours of Unity: Korean Cultural Centre India celebrates Holi with Korea’s Obangsaek spirit

Korean Cultural Centre India celebrated Holi with a unique event that was a lot of fun for the participants and also provided them an opportunity to learn about the symbolism of colours in Korea. The event introduced the Indian audiences to the Korean concept of ‘Obangsaek’ or the ‘Five Cardinal Colours’. Obangsaek is a traditional Korean colour scheme that uses five colours: White, Black, Blue, Yellow, and Red. Colours contain the historical and lifestyle characteristics of a country and its people, and in Korea these colours play an important role in various aspects of life such as art, clothing, food, architecture and religion.

With a vibrant celebration of the Holi festivities, the participants were also explained the significance of each colour and what these colours together mean to the Korean people. Each color corresponds to a specific direction, element, and virtue, representing harmony in the universe. For instance, the colour ‘red’ is associated with the direction ‘south’, the ‘fire’ element and the virtue of ‘propriety’. Similarly, the colour ‘blue’ is associated with the direction ‘east’, the ‘wood’ element and the virtue of ‘benevolence’, and so on.

The event emphasized upon the cultural exchange between Korea and India through the medium of colours. By exploring Holi, the Festival of Colours, and Korea’s traditional Obangsaek colours, the participants gained insight into the meaning and symbolism of colours in both cultures while experiencing their vibrancy.

The event began with both Indian and Korean participants gathering together to apply the vibrant colours of Holi on each other. There was a palpable sense of excitement as a few Korean citizens were playing Holi for the very first time. The festive mood was upbeat as everyone danced to popular Holi songs such as “Balam Pichkari” and “Let’s Play Holi”. To add a Korean twist to the celebrations, songs such as “APT” by Rose & Bruno Mars and “Gangnam Style” by Psy were also played and danced upon.

In a respectful gesture towards Indian culture, some participants wore Hanbok, the traditional attire. Presently, in Korea, hanbok is often worn for special occasions, such as wedding ceremonies, children’s first birthdays, and seasonal holidays including the Lunar New Year’s Day and Chuseok.

Hwang Il Yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India said, “Colours hold deep cultural significance in both India and Korea. Just as Holi in India symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the joy of togetherness through vibrant hues, Korea’s Obangsaek represents harmony in the universe, balancing the five cardinal colours with nature and philosophy. This shared appreciation for colours reflects the deep-rooted connections between our cultures, celebrating life, tradition, and unity through the language of colours.”