Holi is upon us once again, with Hindus across the UK getting involved in the festivities this week. A religious observance celebrated the world over, it is one of the biggest holidays on the Hindu calendar, second only to Diwali. Usually observed in March, the Festival of Colour marks the arrival of spring.
Celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, the holiday is associated with a number of legends.
Traditionally celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, the holiday is also associated with a number of legends. Many Hindus believe that the festival honours Lord Krishna and his lover, the goddess Radah, who is believed to be the first person to be showered with colour as an act of affection. According to lore, a young Lord Krishna envied the fair skin of Radah and expressed his envy by rubbing colour onto her face as an act of affection, the act is seen as an expression of love and friendship that has inspired the tradition of showering other people with colour during Holi celebrations.
One of the most iconic activities in the celebration is the throwing of scented coloured powders
One of the most iconic activities on the day is the throwing or smearing of scented and coloured powders, wet or dry, on people’s bodies. People usually apply wet colours to their faces with more enthusiastic festival participants mixing coloured powder in buckets full of water to drench their entire body in colour.
We wish a happy Holi to all of our readers!
