Imagine a day when an entire country decides it has nothing better to do than participate in a color and water fight of epic proportions. From booby-traps big enough to drench an elephant to first-person-shooter-style water gun battles taking place around every corner, it is almost impossible to avoid getting drenched.

Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, is one day of summer that most Indians eagerly await.

Despite the weather playing spoilsport, the Association of Hindu Students in America (AHINSA) and the Cultural Association of India hosted this year’s event at the Wichita State soccer field on Saturday. While water guns are easily available in the U.S., the colors used during the celebrations are extremely difficult to find here. That’s why the colored powder used during the event had to be ordered in advance from India.

“There are roughly 80 to 100 people here … with four hours to go,” said Madhulika Srikanth, president-elect of AHINSA.

Participants broke into celebration, throwing colored powder and soaking each other with water. Given that kite fighting is a common activity during spring in India, kites were also provided.

“I loved it. It was a lot of fun. I actually went back to the dorms and got a few more people to come back,” said Andrea Elizabeth, a biomedical sciences junior.

“Look, I still have some chalk,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

While this event was a new experience for some people, it was a nostalgic event for international students from the Indian subcontinent who grew up playing Holi every year.

“This was the one festival I used to look forward to all year,” said Jay Kamdar, a graduate student from India. “When I was coming to the U.S., I didn’t think I would be able to celebrate it. But this feels like I’m home.”

Right then, three students tackled an unsuspecting student into a tub filled with water, leaving him sopping wet from head to toe.

“Everybody is having a good time,” said graduate student Sam Schrepel.