Holi
The Hindu Holiday Holi - Festival of Colors
Holi is a spring holiday festival primarily celebrated mainly by Hindus and Sikhs. It is a religious holiday, as well as being a festive and fun experience to welcome the coming spring. It is also known as Holli, the Festival of Colors, or the Festival of Arsalon. In the West Bengal region of India the festival is known as Basanta-Utsav or Dolyatra. The celebrations that take place around this day can last up to 16 days, and include colorful street celebrations, feasting, and visiting loved ones and family members.
The date of Holi changes every year. It is traditionally held on the last full moon of the lunar month Phalguna, which roughly translates to February or the very beginning of March. This symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The dates of Holi range from the first day of March into the first or second week of March. The day before Holi is also a celebration, known as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi, which means Little Holi. Bonfires are lit in remembered of the holy story of Prahlad. He was carried into a fire by a demon called Holika, but due to his devotion to the Hindu god Vishnu, he was not burned, while the demon was consumed by the fire.
There are many Hindu stories that are part of the tradition of Holi. One explains the tradition of throwing colored powder or water onto others in the streets. When Lord Krishna was growing up, he would often play pranks on gopis, or cow herd girls, that he encountered by pouring colored water on them. He also complained of the difference in skin tones between him and his childhood friend and love Radha, who had very fair skin while Lord Krishna had dark skin. His mother decided to applied powdered coloring to Radha's face to make Krishna happy. Holi is a celebration of the divine love between Krishna and Radha, as well as the joyous and youthful energy of spring.
Holi celebrations have been held for centuries, and likely started shortly after the events that lead to the story of Prahlad and his devotion to Vishnu. The practice throwing colored powders and water at others may have also developed as a health treatment. The colors were originally made from herbs and spices that are known, in the Hindu health system of Ayurveda, to offer protection from viruses and colds. The rising temperatures that accompany the beginning of spring often cause viruses to infect many people, and being covered in health boosting powders was a fun way to avoid a spring time cold.
Once of the most popular Holi activities involves throwing handfuls of brightly colored powder, or squirting colored water, on others in the streets. This leads to everyone and everything being covered in rainbows of intense color. As with all Hindu holidays, music is an important aspect as well. Often times the celebrations for Holi begin days in advance with performances of special songs, especially those dedicated to the love story between Radha and Lord Krishna, are sung. Food is also important. Sweet fried dumplings that resemble samosas but are filled with roasted fruits and coconut, called gujhia, the crispy cracker like flatbread called papadum, and various other dishes are all prepared for Holi. Snack foods like malpuas, fried banana fritters, and a donut like confection called a dahi badas are also very popular treats made for this festival.
Holi is celebrated in India, Sri Lanaka, Nepal, and countries with high Hindu populations such as the United States and United Kingdom, Trinidad, South Africa, and Fiji. Tourists often visit the Braj region of India for their renowned Holi celebrations. This area is known to Hindus as the area where Lord Krishna grew up, making it very significant for this festival. The festival is also very important in Nepal, where about 80% of the population is Hindu. Many people of other religions celebrated Holi in Nepal as it is a national holiday, and very fun. Holi is a very high spirited celebration, and is designed to release the sorrow and darkness of the winter.
Although it may have started in India as a way of celebrating the return of spring and divine love, Holi festivals now take place every year around the beginning of March all across the globe. Many non-Hindu people enjoy being covered in colorful powders and eating sweet treats, and large cities like New York often have Holi festivals that are as large and well attended as those in some parts of India. Being Hindu or understanding the myths that surround the festival are not required to enjoy it. Holi, or the Festival of Colors, is a great way to enjoy the beginning of spring with friends and neighbors, and have a lot of fun.
