The gray and cold afternoon of last Friday was enlivened with the bright purples, yellows, greens and reds of the Hindu spring celebration of Holi as students of diverse backgrounds and nationalities celebrated the impending spring and good times with friends.

Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is celebrated at the end of the winter season, usually on the last full moon day of the lunar month of February or March. Celebrants throw colored powders, perfumes and water on one another. At night, bonfires are lit to honor the saintly figure of Prahlada for his devotion to the god Vishnu. The festival is primarily celebrated in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal but is also common among Hindus living within other countries.

The celebration was held in front of the Pennington Center and was sponsored by the Nepalese Student Association at Southeastern and the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs and had a sizeable turnout, but only a handful of non-Nepalese students attended.

NSAS President Rajendra Shrestha, a senior biology major, attributed the lack of American students to the weather.

“There wasn’t a lot of American students, but those that did attend really enjoyed it,” said Shrestha. “I think more would have showed up if it wasn’t for the rain. I think the rain was fortunate, but unfortunate at the same time because we were out there to splash each other and to have a good time, but it’s better if it’s a friend splashing you and not the rain.”

In Nepal, Holi is celebrated during the month of February and is considered to be a national holiday.

Here on campus, Holi was celebrated with a lot of powder paint, several cases of bottle water, a hose, a makeshift visqueen water slide and water balloons.  While the majority of students that attended were Nepalese, a few American students turned out for the fun.

Katie Neil, a freshman pre-medicine major, was at first a little put off by getting sprayed with a hose and then being dowsed in brightly colored powder. But as the party went on, she loosened up.

“It’s so much fun, even though I’m a little frightened,” said Neil. “I have a lot of friends who are Nepalese, and it’s so great to learn about their traditions and spend time with them like this.”

Some of the other American students were even more reserved than Neil, but they were soon soaked and covered in the bright green, blue, yellow and red powder. No one cared that it was cold or that there was a difference in customs or a language barrier; everyone was smiling and having fun.

According to Shrestha, relaxing and having fun with others outside of your social norms is a major part of Holi.

“Back at home everyone is separated by classes and castes, but during Holi it really doesn’t matter because everybody celebrates in the same way,” said Shrestha. “This celebration was really good. It was more like a gathering for the Nepalese students because this year we haven’t really had a chance to get together.”