March 11, 2009, is Holi, the "Festival of Colors" Day

Spring is a season of rebirth, of joy and hope. Throughout the world, there are many celebrations to herald Spring, such as Mardi Gras (celebrated in New Orleans & Brazil), Songkran (Water Festival of Thailand), Easter Pomlázka or Korbáč (Czeck Republic and Slovakia respectively) and the Festival of Holi (India). Holi is a festival of colors, celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Phalguna according to the Hindi calendar or in March or April based on our Gregorian calendar. The spring festival is a colorful ardor to win the blessings of Gods for good harvests and fertility of the land.

The festivities with its charismatic charm and vibrancy are widely celebrated throughout India as well as communities worldwide who are drawn to this Hindi festival. Online searching, with tags such as Hindi, Indian, Holi color festival, Krishna and celebrations, is likely to locate a Holi celebration in a big city near you. Some 2009 celebrations on Saturday, March 28 I found include Stanford, California, and Spanish Fork, Utah.

The Holi Festival, also known as the "Festival of Colors," is a celebration of Lord Krishna and God's Creations. It is celebrated with an abundance of fun and frolic in association with the immortal love of Lord Krishna and Radha. India's celebrations of this festival are fascinating. It is a festival that holds no bars and knows no boundaries. Streets are filled with fun and frolic, and the exuberance and the bonhomie with which it is celebrated, is simply a sight to behold. The mere mention of "Holi" brings smiles and enthusiasm for the upcoming celebrations. Spring brings with it the changing of season and historically believed to cause viral cold and fever, and the playful throwing of powdered medical herbs was to ward off these ills.

Today, dressed in pure white, people smear and drench each other in colors of washable dyes to symbolically wash away all the hard feelings, bringing people closer, forgetting all the anguish of the past and hugging and greeting each other. Holi is a day of great leveling when all real or imagery misgivings of the past are forgiven and forgotten and hurt relationships start afresh. All men (and women) are equal, and barrier taboos relating to caste, color, religion and region are fading away. The world becomes a global village of universal brotherhood, unity and peace -- these and other virtues that HOLI fosters and promotes. Estranged family and friends come to celebrate Holi, hugging each other and exchanging and sharing sweet treats. The pinnacle of Holi is the flaming of the bonfire called HOLIKA to send an effigy of a female demon up in flames and rejoice the victory of good over evil.

In INDIA, the flaming Holika takes place on the eve of Holi, marking the beginning of Holi. The celebrations continue into the next day. It is, after all, the 2^nd most important holiday after Diwali (Festival of Lights, celebrated in November or December of the Gregorian calendar). The exuberance and of the festivities of the Holi season is enriched by a whole host of music, dances and parades, fashion shows and concerts, many of which are performed by the glitzy, glamorous Bollywood (Hollywood cousins) celebs.

Internationally, particularly in UK and USA where there are large Indian congregations of organized clubs and social communities, this joyous festival is marked with high-spirited celebrations of vibrant colors. The ardor, gaiety and brotherhood spirit fill the air as they celebrate the "Festival of Colors."

Holi may be the answer to a desire to take a break from the hum drum of daily life, providing the perfect opportunity to immerse in the colors of harmony. Holi, and with its universal appeal and community in mind, is also a license to be mischievous and have fun. Google a HOLI festival nearest you and participate and promote the message of universal brotherhood, unity and peace.

Sources:

90 sec clip of Holi in America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEhinjls1W8&feature=related

Holi images http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=holi&btnG=Search+Images

Holi pix in Bollywood Choti Bahu http://www.apnicommunity.com/choti-bahu/100959-holi-celebrations-choti-bahu-pics.html

Send HOLI cards (Holi e-cards, songs and other activities) http://www.holi-ecards.com/

Holi as seen in a "Holi Special" in "Choti Bahu" movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF5glHXJns4

Easter in Eastern Europe http://ocgeognome.blogspot.com/2008/04/slovakia-czech-republic-tradition-at_1369.html

Links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi