 Holiday:
Holi is a spring festival also known as festival of colors,
and sometimes festival of love. It is an ancient Hindu
religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus
in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other
communities.
It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and other regions
of the world with significant populations of minority Hindus
or people of Indian origin. The festival has, in recent
times, spread in parts of Europe and North Americas as a
spring celebration of love, frolic and colors.
Holi celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night
before Holi where people gather, sing and dance. The next
morning is free for all carnival of colors, where everyone
plays, chases and colors each other with dry powder and
colored water, with some carrying water guns and colored
water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and
everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man
or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with
colors occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside
temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and musical
instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People
move and visit family, friends and foes, first play with
colors on each other, laugh and chit chat, then share Holi
delicacies, food and drinks. In the evening, after sobering
up, people dress up, visit friends and family. It is a
national holiday in India.
Holi is celebrated at the approach of vernal equinox, on the
Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon). The festival date varies every
year, per the Hindu calendar, and typically comes in March,
sometimes February in the Gregorian Calendar. The festival
signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of
spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet
others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair
ruptured relationships.
Source:
Wikipedia: Holi |
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