Colorful powder flew through the air, turning attendees' once-white clothes into vibrant reds, blues, and oranges on Saturday during the University of Florida's second annual Holi celebration.
The event was hosted by the Indian Students Association, Student Government, UF Savant Leadership Honorary, Indian Grad Student's Association and UF Intercultural Engagement.
Hundreds gathered on UF's Flavet field as music played, food was handed out eaten and colored cornstarch was thrown in celebration of the Hindu holiday.
Also known as the festival of colors, Holi is known throughout the streets of India for its colored powder, which is thrown in celebration of spring, love, peace and diversity.
It is "probably the least religious of Hindu holidays," according to the event's website, and the traditional Indian holiday has become popular with non-Hindus throughout the world.
A local group of Hare Krishnas served free lunch for those in attendance.
After the colorful fun came to an end, participants sprayed off with water hoses and played in the resulting mud.
<i>Attendees of the Holi festival at the University of Florida embrace on Saturday afternoon, March 22, 2014.</i>
<i>Hundreds came out to take part in the festival at Flavet field on the University of Florida campus on Saturday afternoon, March 22, 2014.</i>
<i>A father and his daughter pose at the festival of colors on Saturday afternoon, March 22, 2014.</i>
<i>An attendee brought his dog along to take part in the festivities on Saturday afternoon. </i>
<i>Covered in bright colors, a woman puts on her sunglasses to prevent the colored cornstarch from getting in her eyes.</i>
<i>A man gets covered in red colored cornstarch while celebrating at the Holi festival.</i>
<i>The festival included traditional Hindu music and dancing.</i>
<i>Red, blue and orange cornstarch was thrown in the air at the Holi festival. </i>
<i>A woman throws colored cornstarch into the wind at the festival of colors at the University of Florida.</i>
<i>After the festival, those in attendance were hosed down at Flavet field on the University of Florida campus.</i>
<i>After the festival, those in attendance were hosed down at Flavet field on the University of Florida campus.</i>
<i>A woman is covered in colored cornstarch at the end of the festival.</i>
<i>A group of friends dive into the mud at the culmination of the Holi festival.</i>
<i>Attendees played in a mud pit at the end of the festival of colors.</i>
<i>A woman is thrown into a pile of mud at Flavet field on the University of Florida campus.</i>
<i>http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2014/03/33.jpg</i>