India is set to be engulfed in a vibrant rainbow haze on March 25, 2024, as the country gears up to celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors. This annual celebration of spring brings together friends and strangers alike, who joyfully douse each other with fists full of pigmented powder.
Known as the “festival of colors,” Holi kicks off at sundown on the evening of the full moon during the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna. The festivities begin with the lighting of bonfires, where people gather to sing, dance, and pray in a ritual called Holika Dahan. This ritual symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, as participants throw wood, leaves, and food into the flames.
For 24-year-old Archie Singhal from Delhi, Holi means visiting her family in Gujarat, where she prepares for the colorful bursts of powder by applying oil on her body to prevent the colors from sticking. She dons old clothes that she doesn’t mind tossing after the celebrations.
The tradition of throwing colors during Holi has its roots in Hindu mythology, particularly the love story of the god Krishna and Radha. The festival celebrates love that transcends differences, with the colors traditionally made from natural ingredients like dried flowers, turmeric, and berries.
Holi is a festival that transcends religious, societal, and political divisions, with everyone taking part in the revelry. It is a time when people come together, forget their differences, and celebrate community.
Apart from the colorful powder fights, Holi is also a time for feasting on traditional dishes and drinks like gujiya, dahi vada, and thandai. The festival has ancient roots and is observed by people of all ages, particularly in Northern India and Nepal.
While Holi celebrations vary across India, the festival is also celebrated around the world, wherever the Indian diaspora has spread. With more than 32 million Indians living overseas, Holi is enjoyed in countries like the United States, Fiji, Mauritius, and South Africa.
Holi is not just a festival in India; it is a global celebration that brings people together in a spirit of joy and unity. As Shubham Sachdeva from Delhi puts it, on Holi, “the world is a global village,” where people from all walks of life come together to celebrate the colors of life.
