The Indian festival of colors, Holi, comes around every year. It’s an incredible sight to see and one that many of us want to enjoy for ourselves. To celebrate it like a local, we need to learn all about the history of Holi.
What is the Holi festival?
Holi represents new beginnings. The festival is the perfect way to celebrate the end of winter and the start of spring with friends and family, but that’s not all. The festival takes place on the day of the full moon, known as Purnima, and is celebrated for two days. The bonfire is lit as part of the prayer as it’s meant to burn away anything that’s evil while also cleansing people. However, as soon as the full moon shows its face and the sun comes up, it’s all about the festival of colors. This is the part where the fun really starts.
What is the history of Holi?
It’s thought that Holi has been celebrated for hundreds of years. It was once just for married women as they blessed their marriage and their new family. The festival has always been about good triumphing over evil. It’s thought the king, Hiranyakashipu, wanted everyone to worship him and no one else. His son, Prahlad, was devoted to a Hindu deity – something that greatly angered his father. Prahlad eventually appeared as a half-man, half-lion t defeat his dad and destroy the evil. Another story features Krishna, whose skin turned blue when he drank poisoned milk. He met Radha but was worried she wouldn’t love him because of his blue skin. Instead, Radha covered herself in color, and the pair fell in love.
Why are there so many colors?
The central theme of the festival is color, and every one has a different meaning. The color part of Holi doesn’t have a religious element. It is all about having fun with everyone else in the community. People take to the street to throw color at one another. You need to keep a close eye out when walking through the street as people with paint and colored powder are usually hiding around every corner. Red is supposed to stand for marriage as well as being a symbol of fertility and matrimony. Yellow represents turmeric. Green stands for new beginnings and rebirth. Blue is to represent Krishna and shows off his blue skin.
Where is the best place to celebrate?
The festival takes place in March each year and is celebrated all across India. The festival isn’t limited to the country as many others have adopted the festival around the world, but heading to India might see you in the heart of the action. Tourist spots like Pushkar and Jaipur are great if you want a lot of people in one place. West Bengal is also great if you want to experience something different, as dancing and singing are both important parts of the celebration across these parts. Wherever you go, you’re sure to get a unique and fun experience.
Holi, the Indian festival of colors, is one of the brightest and most magical festivals on the planet. Thousands of people come together as they celebrate in the most colorful way. If you want to celebrate Holi like a local, then be sure to learn all about the history behind the festival before heading to India and diving headfirst into the action.
