Five facts about Holi, the festival of colors

How do many people celebrate Holi? From its origins in Hindu mythology to special drinks infused with the latest cannabis, here are some basics about Holi, which is celebrated today.

1. The beginning of Holi

According to the Hindu calendar, Holi falls on the last full moon of winter. Traditionally, it is celebrated in the northern parts of India, but now it is popular all over the country.

The story goes that a king of demons – Hiranyakashyipu – wanted everyone to worship him as a god. But his son, Balat, opposed him, which angered the king. Hiranyakashyipu made many evil plans to kill his son, but failed.

Later, the king’s sister, Holika, a witch, decided to make it her mission to kill the boy. He will sit in a huge bonfire with Prahlad and while his magic protects him, the boy will die. However, his plans also failed. The boy survived, but the witch burned in the fire.

In many regions, the festival of Holi marks the passing of winter and the arrival of summer, but it also celebrates the victory of good over evil. In Mathura, in northern India, people observe Holi as a celebration of the love between the Hindu god Krishna and his mistress, Radha, and reenact scenes from their lives.

2. Traditional Holi food

All Holi celebrations in India are associated with special food prepared to celebrate the event. The “gujiya” is homemade, a mixture of nuts and grapes stuffed with sweet bread, usually prepared by the women of the family in the evening of the previous holiday. Other traditional Holi foods include “malpua” – fried sweet pancakes; stuffed breads, called “kachoris” – and the ubiquitous “laddoos”, sweet balls made of coconut, wheat or chickpea flour.

3. The traditional Holi drink

Holi isn’t complete without the traditional bhang, a drink made from fresh cannabis. A few days before Holi, bhang enthusiasts work together to perform the difficult task of separating the flowers and leaves from the cannabis sativa plant and grinding them into a powder. The mixture is added to regular desserts or mixed with sweet almond milk as a treat for a special day.

4. It’s Sunday!

The festivities begin in the evening when families make bonfires to mark the cremation of Holika, the witch who wanted to kill Prahlad. On the day of Holi, people enjoy a traditional Indian meal and gather with their family and friends to celebrate.

“Holi Hai,” Hindi for “it’s Holi,” is a show for everyone to gather in one place, throw and throw colors at each other, and often make a racket. If you’re lucky, you’ll walk away with a good, healthy tan on your person with little trouble. If you’re unlucky, the crowd can take you and throw you into the nearest muddy water or you might be doused in permanent color, used to leave your hair and face purple for day at the end.
5. Sacred Song

Songs, including folksongs and Bollywood hits, are a Holi thing. Neighborhoods often blare religious music and festive dances from loud speakers as people gather to play with paint and colors.

Many songs, especially Bollywood numbers, have become synonymous with Holi over the years. Perhaps the most famous sound associated with a Holi song is the one sung by Bollywood super star Amitabh Bachchan. Rang Barse the quintessential Holi, full of drugs, dancing, adultery and sex.

Anything to add to the story? Share in the comments below.