If any Indian person is looking forward to celebrate a festival, after Diwali, a second and strong contender is most definitely the festival of colours, Holi. For as long as I can remember, waiting for Holi to come around was the equivalent of waiting for Christmas to finally arrive. Every spring, people across India and around London, celebrate Holi by throwing coloured water and powders on one another in a joyous celebration. Of the six largest world faiths, nearly 411,000 people make up for the 5.5 per cent of Londoners that are Hindu. It’s heartwarming to see that in my home away from home – I can still enjoy celebrating my favourite festival even nearly 7,187 kilometres away! And so, here’s everything you need to know about the festival of Holi.
What is Holi and why is it celebrated?
Holi is a two-day celebration in India that celebrates the eternal love between Radha and Lord Krishna. The day also celebrates Lord Vishnu’s victory over Hiranyakashipu, signifying the victory of good over evil.
While some families hold religious ceremonies, Holi in its entirety is a festival filled with dancing, singing, colour, and Indian food. It’s a celebration of spring, love, harvest! Holi is celebrated in different ways in different parts of India and the world, the core principle of it remains the same – celebrating the triumph of good over evil and welcoming springtime!
What is the story of Holi?
Holi’s story and history is deeply rooted in Indian mythology, so there’s a few different parts to the story. Across various regions, the festival is intertwined with the legend of Hiranyakashipu, an ancient Indian demon king who demanded everyone in the kingdom to worship him. Hiranyakashipu sought to eliminate his son, Prahlada, a devout follower of Vishnu, with the aid of his sister, Holika. Holika, wearing a protective cloak, sat with Prahlada on a pyre intending to burn him, but instead, she succumbed to the flames while Prahlada emerged unharmed. Later, Vishnu triumphed over Hiranyakashipu, symbolising the victory of good over evil. In numerous locales in India, a sizeable pyre is ignited as a bonfire on the eve of Holi to commemorate this event.
In various regions, the narrative of Krishna and Radha takes center stage. As per the legend, Krishna, a Hindu deity believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu, developed affection for Radha, a milkmaid. However, Krishna felt self-conscious about his dark blue skin in contrast to Radha’s fair complexion. To remedy this, during a playful game with Radha and the other milkmaids, Krishna cheekily smeared colour on Radha’s face, which is believed to be the origin of the tradition of throwing coloured water and powder. The festive atmosphere is also attributed to Krishna’s mischievous nature and love for pranks.
When is Holi celebrated?
Holi occurs during the transition from winter to spring, aligning with the final full moon day of the Hindu lunar calendar month, which fluctuates in alignment with the lunar cycle, leading to its occurrence usually in March, though sometimes in late February according to the Gregorian calendar. Holi takes place on Monday, March 25 this year.
How can you celebrate Holi in London?
🎨 Chuck some colours at the House of Holi pop-up.
🍽️ Feast at the Cinnamon Kitchen’s Holi Supper Club.
🕺🏽 Dance away at London’s biggest Holi Colours Festival.