The Festival of Colors

A day to forget and forgive, end conflicts and accumulated emotional impurities from past is better known as Holi- The Festival of Colors

Holi Phagwa is the Hindu festival of colors.  It celebrates the coming of spring, fruitful harvests, unity, joy, and a tale from the Bhagavad Gita. It is traditional to celebrate by, among other things, throwing vibrantly colored powder (Holi Gulal) at one another.  In addition to the throwing of colored powder it is traditional to light bonfires in celebration of the miraculous escape of a young devotee of the god Vishnu. A demon tried to throw him into a fire, but he escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion.

One of Holi’s biggest customs is the loosening strictness of social structures, which normally include age, sex, status, and caste. Holi closes the wide gaps between social classes and brings Hindus together.  Together, the rich and poor, women and men, enjoy each other’s presence on this joyous day. Additionally, Holi lowers the strictness of social norms.  No one expects the decorum of normal life; as a result, the atmosphere is filled with excitement and joy.

Holi festival has other cultural significance. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, as well as a justification to reset and renew ruptured relationships, end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive, end conflicts and accumulated emotional impurities from past.  People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives.

Traditionally, washable natural plant-derived colors such as turmeric, neem, dhak, kumkum were used; but water-based commercial pigments are increasingly used. All colors are used. Everyone in open areas such as streets and parks are game. Inside homes or at doorways though, only dry powder is, used to smear each other’s face.  People throw colors, and get their targets completely colored up. It is like a water fight, but where the water is colored. People take delight in spraying colored water on each other. By late morning, everyone looks like a canvas of colors. This is why Holi is given the name “Festival of Colors.”

This festival is now being celebrated all over the world…

Saturday, March 26th in NYC:

www.holiinthecity.com