Don’t mind it is holi

Holi – the festival of colors – is unquestionably the most fun-filled and lively Hindu festival. It’s an event that brings in pure joy and glee, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colors! With winter neatly popped in into the loft, it’s a moment to come out to the streets and take pleasure in this spring festival. Every year it is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March with huge merriment around Nepal and India.

A Hindu festival, Holi has various myths attached to it. The foremost is the myth of demon King Hiranya Kashyap who ordered everybody in his empire to worship him but his virtuous son, Prahlad became a disciple of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap wanted his son to be executed. He asked his sister Holika to enter a burning fire with Prahlad in her lap as Holika had boon of life immunity in fire. However, Prahlad was saved by lord himself for his extreme devotion and Holika was burnt to ashes, for her boon worked only when she entered the fire alone. Eventually, Hiranya Kashyap was killed. Since then the day of execution of Holika and Hiraya Kashyap is celebrated as Holi every year.

Great excitement can be seen in people on the  day when it is actually the time for the play of colors. Shops and offices remain closed for the day and people get all the time to get crazy and whacky. Bright colors of lola and abeer fills the air and people take turns in pouring color water over each other. Children take special delight in spraying colors on one another with their pichkaris and throwing water balloons to passerby. Young form groups called tolis and move into toles – applying colors and exchanging greetings. Songs and dance on the rhythm of local and foreign music are also the highlights of Holi.

Got red on your shirt- Don’t mind it is holy.