Tag Archives: festivalofcolors

The Festival of Colors

I don’t know if you guys saw, but there was a snapchat story for “Holi” in India the Friday before Spring Break (March 6). Holi is an annual festival, but the date on the gregorian calendar changes every year because Indian holidays go by the lunar calendar. This year it fell in early March, so it was too cold for me to celebrate with friends and family over break, but India had a lot of fun.

from https://vikasacharya.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/holi-the-festival-of-colors-india/

from https://vikasacharya.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/holi-the-festival-of-colors-india/

Holi is the ancient Hindu festival of colors that celebrates 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. Holi also has a symbolic value because it celebrates the Hindu legend of one triumph of good over evil.

Courtesy of my Insta from a few years ago

Courtesy of my Insta from a few years ago

Side note – the Hindu religion has many stories, as do other religions so this story is just ONE of many but it happened to manifest as a holiday. I wanted to say this to avoid confusion that the people in this story are the only people involved in Hindu history.

Holi, is short for Holika, an evil sister of an evil King Hiranyakashipu. “According to legend” this kind had been blessed by a spell that made him indestructible, and with his immortality he grew arrogant and commanded everyone to worship him like God, which he was not. His own son did not stand for these evil ways, and was loyal to Vishnu, an actual Hindu god. At one point, evil aunt Holika “lured” the son to “sit by a fire” and somehow ended up burning herself, and at that point, the king was vulnerable enough for Vishnu to get rid of him, making good triumph over evil. The color is for enjoyment and play with friends and family. Really, this festival just means to spread some good vibes! I mean, all of India on one day is literally throwing powdered color at each other for the entirety of it. And no, this is not like the color run, the color run is LIKE Holi. The colors have a spiritual purpose.

From https://vikasacharya.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/holi-the-festival-of-colors-india/

From https://vikasacharya.wordpress.com/2015/02/04/holi-the-festival-of-colors-india/

The snapchat story pained me this year because I really wish I could’ve played with friends and family! I’ve only been in India once when I was really young, because I had the choice to skip school for a month, but now that I’m in college, it seems the only time I can be in India for Holi is after I graduate. I have spoken before in my blog about how India spreads such good vibes and spirituality, and a day dedicated to playing with color is exactly why I love it so much! Literally anyone on the streets in your neighborhood is your friend, and there’s a cloud of color everywhere. In America, my family friends try to celebrate but it will never compare. However, I am glad to have found such close friends my age who I can share these first-generation immigrant moments with. We love America and the perspective that it has given us, but we love to celebrate our ethnic traditions as well!

Holi in America with my good friends. I miss you guys!

Holi in America with my good friends. I miss you guys!