Everything you need to know about Holi, the Hindu festival of colours

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The "Festival of Colours", also known as Holi, is a Hindu festival that will be celebrated by individuals all over the globe on March 25th.

For many years, the Hindu festival has been celebrated as a joyous event that involves igniting fires and applying colorful powder on each other in celebration of the start of spring.

Discover all the details you need to know about Holi, including its importance and how it is observed during the festivities.

Hindus Celebrate Holi 2019 With Colours!

Holi not only signifies the start of spring but also honors fecundity, vividness, affection, and the conquest of virtuousness over malevolence.

There are different myths from Hindu mythology that explain the roots of this celebration. One of them narrates the tale of King Hiranyakashipu and his sister, Holika, who was a demon.

There is an old tale that tells of a king named Hiranyakashipu who felt that he was entitled to the worship of all. However, his son, Prahlada, wasn't having it and chose to devote himself to the Hindu deity Vishnu instead.

Motivated by his son's defiance, the monarch and his female sibling Holika schemed to assassinate Prahlada. Holika enticed Prahlada to a pile of combustible material as a way to immolate him.

As they sat on the pyre together, Holika wore a special shawl that shielded her from the fire. Despite this, while the pyre burned, the shawl slipped off Holika and landed on Prahlada, which caused the demon to meet their demise in the flames.

Prahlada chose to worship Vishnu over his father, and the god appeared in the form of a creature that was half man and half lion. This deity then eliminated the deceitful king.

During the eve of Holi, individuals light up bonfires to represent the triumph of righteousness over wickedness by burning Holika. A few Hindus who partake in the celebration may also apply ash from the flames onto their bodies, signifying the act of purifying oneself.

Another story about Holi is about Radha and Krishna, two Hindu gods who share a legendary love. Krishna is often portrayed with blue skin.

According to an old tale, Krishna and Radha fell in love. However, Krishna was worried that their dissimilarities in skin tone might create a gap between them.

Once Krishna expressed his worries, his mother suggested him to apply a vibrant shade of powder on Radha's face.

Upon completing the task, Radha reciprocated Krishna's affection and the two of them joined in holy matrimony.

According to tradition, couples have been following this practice for ages, by applying identical hues on their faces while rejoicing in Holi and their affection.

When Does It Happen?

Holi is happening on the 25th of March, which is a Monday. The date of Holi varies each year because it depends on the moon. Typically, it takes place in March and is a celebration of the end of winter.

The festival is divided into two celebrations. It starts with Holika Dahan on the evening before the main festivities proceed the next day with Rangwali Holi.

How Do People Celebrate It?

Records of Holi being observed can be traced all the way back to the 4th century. This occasion is celebrated globally, but it is mostly practiced in India and Nepal.

The celebration commences with Holika Dahan, a custom where pyres are set on fire on the eve of the festival. This practice is largely observed in areas such as North India, South India, and Nepal.

In preparation for the bonfires, various materials such as wood are amassed beforehand, along with a traditional figurine of Holika which is usually positioned at the pyre's peak.

During the celebration of Holi, the most significant aspect of the festival, Rangwali Holi, is celebrated.

Participants in the celebration smear one another in vibrant gulal, which is a delicate powder of various hues. They also soak themselves in water.

Hinduism assigns symbolic meaning to all the colors of the rainbow. As per Sanskriti magazine, red is a symbol of sensuality, and green signifies happiness and life.

It is commonly understood that yellow stands for wisdom, while white denotes cleanliness, and blue represents willpower.

Prior to participating in the enjoyable "Festival of Colours", it is suggested that individuals should take proper measures to protect and nourish their skin and hair.

The Times of India suggests that applying oil to your face, exposed skin, and hair can provide protection against colourful stains.

After the festivities have ended, it's advisable for participants to take a shower immediately to rinse off the pigments.

For best results, it is recommended to use water that is neither too hot nor too cold when washing off facial colors. Additionally, it is advised to avoid scrubbing the skin too vigorously.