Colours Unite

HOLI FESTIVAL

“If wishes come in rainbow colors then,
I would send the brightest one to say Happy Holi.” 

( Typical Happy Holi text message.) 

Holi is celebrated in February or early March India, Pakistan and Nepal. Holi festival has an ancient origin and celebrates the triumph of ‘good’ over ‘bad’. The colorful festival bridges the social gap and renews relationships. On this day, people throw coloured powder and hug and wish each other ‘Happy Holi’.

The festival does not recognizes any bars of caste, class or creed. Drenched in colours, everybody comes to resemble each other losing their original self. This is the beauty of this festival. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that this festival treats everybody as equals, all differences dissolve in the coloured water that flows in plenty in it.

Holi calls to put an end to any hard feelings that might have cropped up during the year. People apply colour and give each other a friends hug as they greet Holi, the tradition is called, ‘Holi Milan’. It is strongly believed that even enemies turn friend on the day of Holi.

Usually, after a heavy and energetic day of colourful Holi people dress themselves in new clothes and visit friends and relatives with a packet of sweets. This exchange of sweets helps to strengthen and bring joy in relationships.

The tradition of the Colour Festival as a fun and creative idea has spread all over the world  such as at the Swiss Club in Cairo, Egypt, celebrating Holi in the month of september.

Have a look here at some amazing photos from the Holi festival 2011.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/holi_the_festival_of_colors.html