Even before the event had officially started, many Washington University students gathered on the Swamp Friday to celebrate Holi were plenty colorful.

Ashoka is ditching the water balloons in favor of paint to make this year’s Holi event on the South 40 Swamp less of a mud fight and more of a traditional celebration of color.

Students gathered on the South 40 Swamp Friday afternoon to partake in Holi, the annual celebration of colors sponsored by Ashoka each Spring.

Cold and windy weather on Saturday afternoon dampened the turnout at Holi, the annual water balloon battle held on the Swamp. The event, which was originally scheduled for Friday afternoon, was postponed to Saturday because of a county-wide tornado watch.

Ashoka announced that Holi is postponed because of a tornado watch on Friday at around 1:30 p.m. According to a Facebook message sent out at 3:15 p.m. the event has been moved to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Holi, a religious festival observed in India, is annually celebrated at Washington University with a water balloon and subsequent mud fight on the Swamp on the South 40.

Washington University students, numbering in the hundreds, converged on the Swamp on Friday for the event known as Holi, put on by Ashoka, Washington University’s South Asian cultural student group. Beginning at 3 p.m.

We were gratified to see Graham Chapel’s seats filled this past Thursday for Matisyahu’s phenomenal performance. Given the amount of work we all have around this time, it’s great to see our fellow students prioritizing extra-curriculars beyond drinking. As the semester enters its most stressful period, so many exciting events are coming to campus.

Freshman Press takes a look at some of the biggest Wash. U. traditions, like Bauhaus, Beta Bubbles, Carnaval, Dance Marathon and Diwali.