Holi – The festival of colours, sharing, joy and love

Celebrated with great fervour during the full-moon day of Phalguna (March), holi (Holaka or Phagwa), symbolizes equality. Holi assembles people of all ages, castes, gender and status:  elders and youngsters, wealthy and the poor, bosses and employees, men and women get together in the yards and streets to smear each other with coloured powder or spray coloured water from bamboo blowpipes (pichkari). There are a number of traditions, beliefs and legends associated with this great festival.

Celebrating the arrival of spring.

Some celebrate holi as an agricultural festival. The colored powder signifies the end of winter and the arrival of spring when nature manifests itself with different colours. Trees, flowers, birds, and butterflies welcome spring by creating colourful scenery and people play with colours.

Creating equality.

A story also claims that Mongol Emperor Akbar once ordered to cover everyone with color to create equality among the castes.

To please Lord Hanuman

Once, lord hanuman had swallowed the sun. To eradicate the sadness of the people living in the dark, other gods suggested that colored water was thrown on each other.  Ultimately lord hanuman found it very funny and while laughing the sun came out of his mouth.

Win of good over evil.

Once an evil king named Hiranyakashipu was playing havoc on innocent lives and claimed that he was the supreme god. However, his son Prahlad was a great devotee of lord Vishnu and refused to obey the orders of his father. As a punishment, he tried to burn Prahlad the help of his fire-immune sister Holika. But lord Vishnu saved Prahlad and instead Holika was burnt to death. This is why on the eve of holi bonfires are placed everywhere and statues of Holika are burnt in a joyful atmosphere.

Worship of God Krishna

To worship god Krishna people try imitating the play of the lord with Radha and the gopis (cowherds). Another legend says that once lord Krishna put color on Radha because of his dark complexion and thereby her fair colour would not appear.

Holi around the world

Holi is mostly celebrated in India and in countries with citizens of the Hindu culture. In many places celebrations can last weeks. It’s the moment to forget enmities and sadness and celebrate with everlasting enthusiasm.

Wish you all a very happy holi.