Happy Holi, everyone!
Holi is known as the Festival of Colors. It's a celebration of the love of the deities Radha and Krishna. It also celebrates the oncoming of spring, the triumph of good over evil, and the victory of the god Vishnu over the king Hiranyakashipu. It's known by many names throughout the Indian subcontinent and celebrated in various forms by the many peoples there.
The holiday generally falls on March, but it can fall in late February. That because the date depends on when the full moon is seen in the sky in the month of Phalguna on the Hindu calendar.
An ancient tradition, the most famous part of the celebration is people throwing colored powders called gulal in the air. I think this is meant to celebrate the colors of spring returning after the drab gray winters. Holi is also a time for fresh starts, freeing oneself of the emotional baggage of the past. Holi rituals also include gathering around bonfires to sing and dance, the bonfires representing the warming of spring and good defeating evil. Friends and family gather together during the day and chat while enjoying delicacies like gujiya, malpuas, and mathris.
Yes, Holi is essentially the celebration of a new year in India, a time to end conflicts and start fresh. Hope you learned something neat here. Thanks for reading this blog entry! If you liked it, show it off! Take care of yourselves and each other! See you next time!
