Holi

HOLI: Festival of Colors

By Kaushika Patel

Holi is a festival to celebrate the arrival of Spring. Colorful patterns are painted at the doorway of each house. This holiday is celebrated by children, men, and women of all ages, by throwing gulal (colored powder) at each other. Rich or poor, everyone takes part in the celebration. Water tanks and guns are filled with colored water and squirted at each other. This is a way making friends and spreading good will with each other.

There is also mythological connotation associated with the festival of Holi. The story relates to an ancient king of India who was a cruel and domineering ruler. He considered himself to be god. Prahlad, a son of the king did not believe in his farther, instead worshiped Lord Vishnu. This outraged his father who punished him by placing him on burning fire, but Prahlad came out of the fire unharmed. This represents the victory of good over evil.

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