What is Holi?
Holi is a Hindu spring festival and is known as the festival of love or festival of colors. As one of the oldest Indian festivals, behind the colorful fun is a 2,000-year-old tradition. Its purpose is to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring, also the triumph of good over evil. On a more personal level, the festival is used as an opportunity to reflect and reach out. From forgiving and forgetting to repairing broken relationships, Holi truly is a positive event.
The story behind the festival of love
There are different religious stories behind Holi. For some, Holi commemorates the story of when Lord Krishna painted the face ofthe goddess Radha and they fell in love. However, others believe in the story of Prahlad. Prahlad was a prince whose father was king and wanted everyone in his kingdom to worship him. His son, Prahlad, refused and chose to worship Lord Vishnu instead. The king’s sister Holika tricked Prahlad into sitting on her lap in a bonfire in order to destroy him. However, because she was using her power in a malicious manner, the plan failed and Prahlad emerged from the flames unharmed whilst she was left to burn. Ashes that come from Holi celebrations, to this day, are thought to bring good luck.
How is Holi celebrated?
The most well-known aspect of Holi is the part where participants coat each other with colored powders. However in India the celebration is split into two events: Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi. Holika Dahan occurs the evening before Rangwali Holi. During this, wood and dung cakes are burned to symbolize good having victory over evil. The second event occurs the following day and involves people chasing each other throwing gulal (colored powders) over each other.
Where else is Holi celebrated?
India, Nepal and Malaysia all celebrate the festival, but the Indian diaspora hold their own festivals all across the world. This means the positive message of Holi has spread to cities across the globe, and more and more people are choosing to partake. The throwing of colors over people’s faces and bodies is a great equalizer, bringing people together who might otherwise not mingle due to socioeconomic status or even geographic location.
Every year thousands of people gather in Barcelona, Spain to watch Bollywood dance performers, and colors are launched into the crowds every hour between 1 PM and 6 PM. Australia also sees many Holi celebrations across the country, and in the UK, Indians constitute the second largest ethnic group in the country. Festivals are held across the UK, particularly in cities with large Indian communities like Leicester. In fact Holi is celebrated everywhere from South Africa to Trinidad and Tobago.
Every year thousands of people gather in Barcelona, Spain to watch Bollywood dance performers, and colors are launched into the crowds every hour between 1 PM and 6 PM. Australia also sees many Holi celebrations across the country, and in the UK, Indians constitute the second largest ethnic group in the country. Festivals are held across the UK, particularly in cities with large Indian communities like Leicester. In fact Holi is celebrated everywhere from South Africa to Trinidad and Tobago.
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