Astha Dave, Staff Writer–
Water balloons exploded against smiling faces, colorful powders soared through the air, and buckets of water splashed over unsuspecting students. By the end of the afternoon, everyone was drenched, beaming, and covered head to toe in vibrant hues.
On April 26, Denison International Students Association (DISA) and the Nepalese Student Association (NPA) hosted a Holi celebration at Bandersnatch, below Huffman Hall on East Quad..
Holi, a major Hindu festival, celebrates love, the arrival of spring, and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally observed on the full moon day of March 14 (changes according to the Hindu calendar), Denison students gathered to mark the festival a little later, but in much warmer weather, just before the stress of finals set in.
“[My roommate] dragged me out for Holi,” said Luka Bagashvili ‘25, “They told me I wouldn’t get any paint on me, but they lied.”
Students sprinted across the lawn, tossing colored powders at one another, while others ducked inside Bandersnatch for a quick bite of Indian food. The event was catered by Indian & Nepali Kitchen, offering a variety of authentic dishes and sweets, including gulab jamun, mango lassi, kulfi, and several entrees.
The student performers Hassaan Ahmed ‘26 and Malik Ahmed ‘25 added to the event by playing music.
For many Denisonians, the two hours of playful chaos were more than just fun, they were a way to reconnect with home and celebrate their cultures on campus.
“Everyone should have been there,” said Utsav Kota ‘25. “It was wonderful seeing that we all came from different places, but we were all under one umbrella; we were connected in a sense.”
While the festival was joyful, some students reflected on the importance of keeping these traditions alive.
“It’s not as fun back home anymore because it’s dying down over the years,” said Ichhit Joshi ‘25, from Nepal. “We are growing older, people are losing culture, we all just gotta come out and have fun.”