Holi Festival Greetings

holi is my favorite festival where we all friends gather and have lot of fun spraying colors on one another. But now a days bio-degradable dry colors are in being used.

In my younger days we used to fill up balloon with colored water and pry upon unsuspecting peers and play many other pranks. It used to get very messy at times , but is was fun.

Wish you and others a happy holi too.

Sounds like a fun celebration. So you just throw paint on everyone?

I take it there is a parade or something?

Yes Nick, its a lot of fun. There is no formal parade as such. Holi is a great time to bond with one another. On the second day people flock together and visit one another armed with dry and water colors, smearing and greeting one another as if drowning differences of any sort. And wishing one another a colorful life ahead.

There is a traditional festive drink called bhang(intoxicating drink using bhang leaves and milk) which is consumed. Holi celebrations sort of gives a social sanction to have this intoxicating drink, let lose dance and make merry. This festival gives so much liberty to the people to let their hair down and dance to the rhythm of dholak.

There have been incidences where people have used this festivals to play unpalatable pranks like using toxic colors, paints and chemicals. Present day there is more awareness and people mostly use dry colors that can be easily dusted off.

Many an Indian films have incorporated the theme of this festival in its songs and stories. Indian TV serials are incomplete with showing glimpses of this festival.

I wonder if Indians in America celebrate it?

I've never heard of it, but it sounds like we could use it here in the states.

Great article. To answer nick's question:
My sister stays in wisconsin (Madison)and right now that place is still buried in snow. When I asked her if she was planning to celebrate Holi, she laughed and said, "what, are you crazy, Who in the hell would want to play holi in this cold?"
Holi can be played only in the summers (as it involves getting wet and playing in the water) and so maybe this festival is celebrated in the "hotter" parts of America? If there is any such place during this month?
You are from Florida, How is it there?

You can read all about the special drink and an important tradition of Holi: Thandai, at this link:
http://www.xomba.com/holi_special_the_thandai_tradition

Thanks rawnak, for your appreciation.

You are right rawnak, in parts of U.S. where there is chilling cold there is no question of playing holi in this holy cold!

To further answer Nick's query - In U.S pockets where NRI Indians are present in sizable numbers (like in New York and California) holi celebrations is done in a big way. There are Holi parades and organized holi playing in parks and gardens. While holi celebrations are more of impromptu in India, out in the US celebrations among the Indians settled their are more organized and on bigger scale. Revelry and fun are same everywhere though.

People in the U.S. use this festival to remain in touch with their cultural roots through these organized festival celebrations. Music programs and holi meets are the order of the day. This helps introduce children to the traditions and keep them rooted in Indian culture.

There are instances where Bollywood actors take time out to celebrate Holi with the people of USA in form of dance performance, fashion shows and music concerts.

Like wise holi is celebrated by Indians settled abroad in countries such as UK, South Africa, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Trinidad & Tobago amongst others.

I hope Nick, you get a chance to be a part of this revelry and fun once......and you would never want to miss it again.

I fondly recollect holi festival celebrations during my childhood days. Holi color marks held their ground on various parts of our bodies for days together despite severe scrubbing.

Dunking unsuspecting friends into ponds of colored water and prank playing formed the crux then. However, now i prefer dry colors and remain a select group of close friends.

Its a treat to watch people have fun and dance. Happy Holi!

Nice article and informative comments. On this occasion i wish everyone on xomba a happy holi.

Ya its my favorite festival. I had enjoyed it more this year.

Rejoice in the Truth of Divine Law's Dominance!

Sounds like fun :-) Someday I intend to make the journey - lots of places I need to see!

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You are doing great job I love travel too

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