HAPPY HOLI 2021
#HOLI
Holi, a traditional
Hindu festival, celebrates the beginning of spring and takes place over two
days. It is a celebration of fertility, colour and love, as well as the triumph
of good over evil. Holi is one of the major festivals of India and is the most
vibrant of all.
Although
the festival originated in India and is still widely celebrated there as a
religious festival, it has been adopted in many places around the world.
It
is best known for the powder that revellers throw on each other, leaving
festival-goers coated in colour by the end of the day. 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.
What is the coloured
powder and what does it mean?
Historically,
the gulal was made of turmeric, paste and flower extracts, but today synthetic
versions are largely used.
The four
main powder colours are used to represent different things. Red reflects
love and fertility, blue is the colour of Krishna, yellow is the colour of
turmeric and green symbolises spring and new beginnings.
When is Holi?
The
timing of Holi is synchronised with the moon, which means that the dates
of each celebration varies year on year. In 2021, Holi festival will take place
on 28-29st March.
Why is it celebrated?
In
the scheme of Hindu celebrations, Holi is a relatively secular one. It draws
on various mythologies. First and foremost is the burning of the
devil Holika, but it also draws on the legend of Radha and Krishna. Krishna
loved Radha but felt self-conscious about how different their skin-colours
were. So on the advice of his mother, he went and playfully painted her face so
it was the same colour as his. It is said that lovers often celebrate Holi in
this tradition, by colouring their faces the same colour during the
celebrations.
Local man celebrating Holi
However,
Holi is mostly seen as a time for people to get together and enjoy
themselves. It is purported to be a time when friends, families and
communities can get together without any concern for caste or
ethnicity, although how much this holds true in reality is
debatable. That said, there are certain groups that take their
religious elements more seriously than others. In the Braj region of
India, celebrations last for 16 days.
How can I get the powder
off my skin?
The best way to prevent any powder from sticking to your skin is to
moisturise 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.
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