A vibrant haze of colors fills the air across India, as laughter echoes through the streets while friends and strangers shower each other with bright powders.

It's time for Holi, an annual celebration marking the arrival of spring.

In 2024, clouds of crimson, emerald, indigo, and saffron will paint the skies on March 25, for one of India’s most joyful and colorful festivals. “Playing Holi,” as it's called, has expanded far beyond India, bringing people together across the globe to join in the fun.

The Festivities Begin at Sundown

Holi, also known as the festival of colors, kicks off on the evening of the full moon during the month of Phalguna in the Hindu calendar, which typically falls in February or March. The celebration starts with the lighting of bonfires, where people gather around the flames to sing, dance, and take part in a ritual called Holika Dahan. This tradition symbolizes the defeat of the demoness Holika and is a time for reflection and joy.

Archie Singhal, 24, travels from Delhi to visit her family in Gujarat the day before Holi, when the bonfire is lit in the evening. The following morning, she gets ready for the colorful celebration by applying oil to her skin to prevent the gulal powder from sticking. She also wears old clothes that she's prepared to throw away after the festivities.

Why the Colors?

Holi's origins are tied to a story about Lord Krishna, who, feeling self-conscious about his blue skin, asked his mother why his love, Radha, had fair skin. His mother, Yashoda, jokingly suggested that he paint Radha's face with any color he liked. Krishna then smeared color on her, making them look alike.

Holi, in part, celebrates the love between Krishna and Radha, symbolizing a bond that transcends differences. While some of the gulal used today is synthetic, traditional colors are derived from natural sources like dried flowers, turmeric, berries, beetroot, grapes, and tea.

“There is an atmosphere of freedom,” said Ms. Singhal, explaining how she eagerly throws colors on her younger brother, parents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors. The festival is a joyful time when societal and political divisions are set aside. People from all walks of life, regardless of background, join in the celebration, freely splashing each other with vibrant colors, creating an inclusive and joyful experience for everyone.

Traditions Across India

Holi celebrations vary greatly across India, reflecting the country's rich cultural diversity. In North India, particularly in regions associated with the birth of the Hindu Krishna, the festivities can last over a week and are especially lively.

In Mathura, the city believed to be Krishna's birthplace, people reenact a story where Krishna visits Radha, and her cowherd friends, offended by his advances, chase him away with sticks. This playful tradition is part of the spirited Holi celebrations there. In Barsana, a town in Uttar Pradesh, the unique Lathmar Holi is celebrated, where women playfully beat men with bamboo sticks. It's an exhilarating and lively tradition filled with fun and laughter.

In the eastern state of Odisha, Holi is celebrated with Dola Purnima, a multi-day festival that features grand processions of decorated carriages carrying idols of Hindu gods, accompanied by drumbeats, songs, and a vibrant display of colors and flower petals. In southern India, where Holi is not as widely celebrated, temples carry out ceremonies. In the Kudumbi tribal community in the southwest, a ritual involving the transport of areca palm trunks to shrines symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Holi Around the World

Holi is celebrated globally, wherever the Indian diaspora has spread. With more than 32 million people of Indian origin worldwide, including 4.4 million in the United States, the festival has reached many corners of the globe. Countries such as Fiji, Mauritius, South Africa, the UK, and various parts of Europe also celebrate Holi with joy and enthusiasm.

Australia

Australia is such an Indian-populated country. On Holi Day, people in Melbourne get lost in a miasma of ethereal air and clouds of colorful powder. Holi is celebrated in the capital of Victoria because of its kaleidoscopic natural beauty.

Canda

Canada has a large Indian population and hence the celebration of Holi is very common. Holi was celebrated at the Parliament House of Canada with the participation of various members of the Parliament.

United Kingdom

Hindus settled in the UK do not miss out on the celebrations of the Holi and enjoy it to the fullest. As Hindus are the second largest ethnic minority in the UK, the British are particularly enthusiastic about the festival. Celebrating Holi helps them to build a stronger bond with their family and cultural roots.

Guyana

Holi is Guyana's national holiday, as Hindus make up about 33% of the country's population. Guyanese living abroad make special arrangements to be with their families during the festival.

Summary

As the festival spreads across the world, it brings people of all backgrounds together, turning cities and communities into lively, colorful spaces where love and happiness reign. Whether in India or abroad, Holi remains a powerful symbol of togetherness and renewal!