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| Holi: What is it, and why is it celebrated? | Holi: What is it, and why is it celebrated? |
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| Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of Spring. Known widely as the Festival of Colour, it takes place over two days, and is a celebration of fertility, colour, and love, as well as the triumph of good versus evil. | Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of Spring. Known widely as the Festival of Colour, it takes place over two days, and is a celebration of fertility, colour, and love, as well as the triumph of good versus evil. |
| People take part in Holi all around the world, but it is celebrated the most in parts of India and Nepal. It is often associated with the coloured powders that end up coating its participants after they’ve thrown them at each other. But this is just one part of Holi, which is split into two events: Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi. | People take part in Holi all around the world, but it is celebrated the most in parts of India and Nepal. It is often associated with the coloured powders that end up coating its participants after they’ve thrown them at each other. But this is just one part of Holi, which is split into two events: Holika Dahan and Rangwali Holi. |
| Holika Dahan takes place the night before Rangwali Holi. Wood and dung-cakes are burned in a symbolic pyre to signify good defeating evil (in Hindu Vedi scriptures, the God Vishnu helps burn the devil Holika to death). | |
| The next morning, people gather in public spaces and take part in Rangwali Holi. This is a raucous affair where people chase each other around, throwing handfuls of coloured powders (known as gulal) at one another, while getting drenched in water. | |
| The timing of Holi is synchronised with the moon, which means that the dates of each celebration varies year on year. This year Rangwali Holi will take place on 24 March, while the pyres of Holika Dahan will be burned the evening beforehand. | |
| In the scheme of Hindu celebrations, Holi is a relatively secular one. It draws on various mythologies, but is mostly seen as a time for people to enjoy themselves. Particularly in countries like India, it also provides a period of time for people to get together without any concern for caste, religion or ethnicity. | In the scheme of Hindu celebrations, Holi is a relatively secular one. It draws on various mythologies, but is mostly seen as a time for people to enjoy themselves. Particularly in countries like India, it also provides a period of time for people to get together without any concern for caste, religion or ethnicity. |
| Holi is an ancient celebration. Mentions of it can be dated back to fourth century poetry, and it was described in a 7th century play called Ratnaval: | Holi is an ancient celebration. Mentions of it can be dated back to fourth century poetry, and it was described in a 7th century play called Ratnaval: |
| "Witness the beauty of the great cupid festival which excites curiosity as the townsfolk are dancing at the touch of brownish water thrown from squirt-guns.They are seized by pretty women while all along the roads the air is filled with singing and drum-beating. Everything is coloured yellowish red and rendered dusty by the heaps of scented powder blown all over." | "Witness the beauty of the great cupid festival which excites curiosity as the townsfolk are dancing at the touch of brownish water thrown from squirt-guns.They are seized by pretty women while all along the roads the air is filled with singing and drum-beating. Everything is coloured yellowish red and rendered dusty by the heaps of scented powder blown all over." |
| The best way to prevent any powder from sticking to your skin is to moisturise your skin well beforehand. Some people also oil their hair so that the powder is easier to remove, or wear a hat. It is also recommended that anyone taking part uses home-made powders with ingredients that are guaranteed to be non-harmful. One way you can do this is by putting together a mix of flour, water and a few splashes of food dye. |