Holi: Festival of Colors in India
Holi is a famous Hindu festival, also known as the “festival of colors”. The festival marks the victory of good over evil. It shows the arrival of spring and the end of winter. It is celebrated in March, according to the Hindu calendar in the month of Phalguna, it always falls on Purnima or the day of the full moon. It’s a two-day festival. The first day on the full moon is Holika Dahan when a bonfire is lit for a puja. The bonfire is meant to burn away all the bad thoughts and evil spirits. The next day after the full moon is all about the festival of colors.
This year 2021, the festival of Holi will be celebrated on Sunday, 28 March, and Monday, 29 March.
In India during the Holi festival, a special sweet “Gujhiya” is prepared in most families. It is filled with dairy products khoya and dried fruits. In some cultures, usually, a traditional drink “Thandai” is prepared, which contains bhang.
In the evening, people wear new or clean clothes and visit their family and friends to share and exchange traditional sweets and other delicious items.
Where is the Holi festival largely observed in India?
Holi celebrations are performed in different ways in several parts of the nation.
Whereas to the great experience the festival of Holi in India, you have to visit Uttar Pradesh, and basically, to those places that are heartly related with Lord Krishna namely Braj, Mathura, Vrindavan, Barsana, and Nandgaon. During the Holi festival, all of these places become completely touristic. The town of Barsana celebrates Lathth-mar Holi, where women playfully beat their men with sticks although men run around with shields to protect themselves. This becomes more enjoyable and interesting when people together entertain in singing and dancing.
The festival of colors is broadly celebrated in cities such as Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and while each city may celebrate slightly differently, you can expect to see plenty of colors, music, and dance. West Bengal celebrates Holi as Dol Jatra with singing and dancing. In South Indian culture, people worship the God of love, Kamadeva, on Holi. At the same time, in Uttarakhand, it is observed as Kumaoni Holi singing classical ragas, while, in Bihar, people traditionally clean their houses, make different delicious foods and celebrate the festival.
Note – If you want to know about Holi festival in Hindi then visit here Holi Festival in India in Hindi
