Notes from India: Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors

Holi is the most fun-filled of all the Hindu festivals celebrated in India and it includes all the elements of a holiday time including music, dance, special foods and fun. It is an ancient festival dating back to the 16^th century and marks the beginning of spring with all of its promise and bounty. Holi falls on the day after the first full moon in the lunar month of Phalgun, usually late February or early March. Known as the Festival of Colors it is famous the world over for the strange practice of throwing colored water made from brilliant powders on adults and children alike. The colors are meant to remove all sorrow and bring new life to the celebrants.

Hindu Gods and Their Stories

Like all Hindu holidays Holi is based on mythological stories of Hindu gods and their antics. One version of the Holi story tells of the ogress Khundhi who put fear into the hearts of village children. She was chased away by shouts and pranks which was the result of a curse put on her by Lord Shiva. Another version of the Holi story is better known and concerns Lord Krishna who as a child played pranks on young girls by throwing colored water on them. Ancient pictures show Krishna chasing his consort Radha and squirting her with a pichkari (syringe-like hand pump) filled with colored water. A third story involves the Lord Shiva opening his third eye on Holi thus incinerating Kamadeva the god of love and so another part of Holi involves the nighttime burning of huge bonfires. These bonfires also commemorate the escape of a young man named Prahlad who escaped the demoness Holika when she carried him into a fire. Holika was burned to death, but young Prahlad was saved due to his devotion to Vishnu.

Some Holi Customs

Depending on the part of the country visited Holi can last anywhere from three to sixteen days. In many homes a platter(thali) is made of beautiful colored powders on the first day of the celebration. Water is placed in a small brass pot called a lota. Powders are mixed into the water and sprinkles of the colors are placed on each family member to mark the beginning of the Holi celebrations. Sometimes small dabs of color are placed on the feet of elders to honor them. On the second day of Holi known as Puno images of Holika the demoness are burned in outdoor bonfires. Songs and dances are performed and sometimes women carry their babies around the fire five times in a clockwise direction to receive a blessing from Agni the god of fire. On day three comes the most boisterous of the celebrations called Parva. This is when people of all ages wear white and go out into large crowds "playing Holi" and where everyone is literally covered with the powders and colored water.

Holi Favorites

The songs and dances accompanying Holi are usually telling love stories of the gods and goddesses. Special folk songs known as Hori are sung too. Holi foods are prepared days in advance and include gujia,(coconut almond pastries) papads,(fried lentil chips) kanji(spicy lentil chips) and various snack items such as malpuas,(sweet fritters soaked in saffron-flavored syrup and topped with almonds), mathri,(salty flaky biscuits), puran poli,(flatbread with sweet lentil filling and served with curd) and dahi badas (savory lentil balls served with yogurt and chili powder) which are served to guests during Holi. Every part of the country has its favorite Holi recipes. Sometimes parents and grandparents distribute small gifts of money or sweets to the children. In some communities children are allowed to go house to house collecting money or wood to add to the bonfire fun later in the festival. The adults often indulge in alcoholic drinks or those made with the addition of "bhang" which is derived from the cannabis plant.

To Play or Not to Play

At times the Holi celebrations can verge on dangerous riot-like conditions. And in recent times there has been concern over the environmental safety to people and air quality from the chemical compounds which make up modern day colors. Still Holi is universally celebrated in India with great fun and anticipation-the colorful country of India celebrating its unique and extravagant Festival of Colors.

sources:
www.about.com/hinduism,holi
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holi
www.indianfoodforever.com
www.iloveindia.com
www.holifestival.org