India truly is a land of festivals! There can be 365 festivals in 365 days a year! Owing to the multitude of ethnic and religious diversity, India celebrates a diverse range of festivals throughout the year. Indian festivals are an explosion of color, joy and a true example of unity in diversity. Today, we are going to look at another such unique festival called Holi, which is celebrated in the spring with color and celebrations all over India.
Hindu mythology is a myriad of tales, folklore and myths. The festival of Holi is also associated with one of these stories and accounts of Holi were found in documents dating back to the 4th century BC. Although the narratives vary from region to region and within each narrative. One story that is very popular in India with the celebration of Holi is the legacy of Lord Krishna, a Hindu god who is worshipped with reverence throughout the country. Lord Krishna is known to have courted several courtesans and the stories of his mischievous nature and his moments of pleasure with his courtesans are a popular tale. It is said that the festival of Holi has its origin in the time when Lord Krishna played with colours with his many courtesans. He smeared them with colours while the courtesans adored their beloved. In Hindu culture until today, Holi symbolizes harmony and merrymaking, and people all over the country play with colours to celebrate this festivity.
Especially in northern India, the festival of Holi is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The Holi is celebrated every year in March, the dates may differ each year as the date is set according to the Hindu calendar. The most iconic Holi celebration in India takes place in Mathura, a city in North India, which is known as the birthplace of Lord Krishna. The festivities in the town have been captured by renowned television networks as an exhibit of curiosity. The scene in Mathura is worth seeing, the whole town drowns in colour and everyone is delighted to splash the colours all over each other. Another fascinating fact is that on the eve of Holi, large bonfires are lit across North and Central India, denoting the burning of evil and all that is unholy, and the next day is celebrated with colours to symbolize purity and the atmosphere free from all evil.
In metropolises and big cities, the celebration of the Holi has taken many whimsical forms. Holi celebrations held in an open garden are very popular among the elite, where fancy cocktails and snacks are served while people smear each other with soft colours, which can be a slight stain on each cheek, far from the way it is celebrated in the heart of the country where people are drenched in colour on the streets and roads. If you want to get the true essence of Holi, you have to see it in the villages of India which are the lifeblood of India. The rustic and authentic way of celebrating has its emblematic way. Moreover, Holi is also celebrated all over the world by Indian communities living abroad. You can ask your Indian friend or neighbour to participate in the next Holi celebration.
It has been evident that during Holi, women's safety is at stake. Certain elements in society are known to take advantage of the playful environment and pose safety problems for women, especially in small towns or villages where the celebration is not confined to the house, like in big cities where the celebrations take place in one's own garden or in closed areas. When the festivities open in the streets and on the roads, some fanatics cause disruptions. Nevertheless, the police and security services are well aware of this and provision is made for protective measures. In addition, initiatives have been taken to use organic and skin-friendly colours so as not to harm the skin when colours are used intensively. The protection of animals is also being stepped up because India has many free animals on the streets and the Holi festival must not be an abuse of them.
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