Everything you oughta know about the Hindu Festival of Colors celebrated each spring.
Holi was the most fun I had as a kid.
One of the most remarkable things about the event is how enthusiastic and carefree it is.
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Attending a Holi festival is so much more than just throwing colors and taking a few pictures.
It gets you out of the monotony of late winter to interact with friends and family.
And there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in the tradition in the U.S. ## What is Holi?
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If you’re wondering what Holi is all about, you might find there isn’t one straight answer.
It’s a time to let the negative melt away.
The festival always falls on Purnima, or the day of the full moon.
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It’s a two-day holiday, with the day before the full moon being Holika Dahan.
That’s when a bonfire is lit for a puja (or prayer).
The bonfire is cleansing, meant to burn away all the bad and evil.
The next day, directly after the full moon, is all about color.
Why is Holi called the Festival of Colors?
The main event of Holi is the color-filled celebration.
The colors are each said to symbolize something different.
Blue is for Krishna, a Hindu god portrayed with blue skin.
Green is symbolic of rebirth and new beginnings.
Red is the color of marriage and can symbolize matrimony or fertility.
And yellow, the color of turmeric, is often used on auspicious occasions.
What is the history of Holi?
One of the primary themes of Holi is the triumph of good over evil.
This takes root from the story of Hiranyakashipu, a king who believed he was immortal.
As the story goes, Lord Vishnu appeared in the form of a half-lion, half-man and killed Hiranyakashipu.
Thus, good triumphed over evil.
The other story often associated with Holi is the story of Krishna and Radha.
Radha let Krishna apply color to her skin, and they became a couple.
And so on Holi, we apply color to each other’s skin.
When is Holi?
The customary puja and bonfire are held on the eve of the festival, Holika Dahan.
Where is Holi celebrated?
The color festival is most popular in India, where it looks a little different depending on the region.
It’s based at the localKrishna temple.
The ticketed event includes bands and DJs, yoga classes, and color throwing on the hour.
There are also huge Holi parties across Houston, withHouston Holicalling itself the nation’s largest.
That festival features Bollywood dancing, Indian street food vendors, amusement rides, and more.
On the East Coast, New Jersey is a Holi hot spot because of its significant Indian population.
Nearby, in New York City,Holi in the Cityis Brooklyn’s anticipated indoor-outdoor color-throwing event.
Finally, Boston is the Holi capital of New England.
Its main Festival of Colors is hosted bySri Radha Bhakti, a Hindu temple in Holbrook, Massachusetts.
