TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Students around campus came together on March 5th to celebrate the Hindu festival Holi.

Holi is the festival that celebrates the demon king Hiranyakshipu’s defeat by Vishnu and signals the start of spring.

“We are playing Holi, a festival celebrated in our country, Nepal,” said international student Sussan. “This is basically a festival of color; people throw colors at each other, and we express our joy. It is a festival that celebrates good over evil, which is what we are doing.”

Festivities include throwing colored chalk and water and eating Nepalese food. Organizers say festivals like these help international students combat homesickness.

“I was an international student here a long time ago, said Sarah Bai, an international student advisor. “Troy’s campus is really great and makes me feel like home, and I made a lot of new friends, but I still miss my home a lot of the time.

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“I especially miss my family, and I miss my friends, and I feel like for us a student festival will make them feel a sense of belonging while feeling like someone here cares about us.”

The celebration wasn’t limited to international students. Students from all nations came together to celebrate.

“I feel like a lot of times when we misunderstand each other when we dislike each other, it is because we don’t know about each other,” Bai said.

The colors each have certain meanings. Red represents love and fertility; blue honors Lord Krishna; yellow symbolizes knowledge and prosperity; green signifies new beginnings; and pink expresses joy and prosperity.

“One of my students told me that the more colors means good luck for you,” Bai said.

Although there was not one on campus, another part of the celebration includes lighting a bonfire to symbolize the destruction of evil the night before the festival.