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Holi: Festival of Colours
By: Nisarg Bhavsar
Holi is a festival celebrated in Northern India to mark the coming of spring. It is often referred to as the festival of colours, love and frolic. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has also become popular amongst non-Hindus in various parts of the world. This festival has even spread to parts of Europe and North America
Holi is celebrated at the approach of the Vernal Equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (full moon). The date varies every year, occurring around March and sometimes in February according to the Gregorian calendar.
Holi celebrations start with a Holika fire (depicted in the picture above) on the night before the big event, to celebrate the death of Holika, a rakshash (a race depicted as evil by Hindu scriptures, also called demons).
The next morning is a free for all, in which everyone, regardless of age, throws and stains each other with various colours, dry powder or coloured water, in good gest. Pichkaries (a type of water gun) are often used. Everyone and anyone is fair game, as it is, for many, a festive day in which they can meet others, play, laugh, forgive and forget. The Holi festival has other cultural significances. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. People pay or forgive debts, as well as begin anew with those in their lives. Holi also marks the start of spring and for many, the beginning of a new year.
Legend has it that Holika’s death was needed to save Prahlad, a saintly rakshash boy known for his devotion to the god Vishnu. She sacrificed herself in order for Prahlad to live. The story is a testament to the power of devotion and its ability to overcome evil, in this case inflicted by King Hirantakashipu, the Rakshash king. The story also depicts other trials Prahlad was put through to punish his devotion to Vishnu, including being cast into a pit of snakes and having a war elephant let loose on him. In each instance he was saved by Vishnu, the story ending with the god incarnating in the form of a lion to kill the demon king.
