Holi 🇮🇳

Holi is a festival celebrated in India known under different names such as « Festival of Colours », « Festival of Spring » or « Festival of Love ». This religious festival marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring, it takes place at the full moon of the month of Phâlguna, that is to say between February and March.

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Its origin comes from Hindu mythology. According to the legend, King Hiranyakashipu ordered his subjects to consider him as a god. Nevertheless, his son Prahlad refused, preferring the god Vishnull. To punish his son, the king decided to kill him. To do this, he asked his sister Holika, who is not sensitive to fire, to challenge Prahlad by lying down in the flames. The son’s faith in Vishnull saved him and Holika died in the flames. The festival of Holi would then be the symbol of the victory of good over evil.

Holi is one of the oldest celebrations in India, which existed even in antiquity. Hindus used to cover their faces with ashes, nowadays replaced by colored pigments.

During this festival, all castes gather in the streets and throw powders and colored water. Each color has a particular meaning : red represents joy and love, blue vitality, orange optimism and green harmony.

The festival lasts 2 days: the 1st day a fire is lit symbolizing the cremation of Holika and the 2nd day the throwing of colors takes place. At the time of the throw of color, it is customary to apologize by saying “Bura na mano, Holî hai” (Do not be angry, it is Holi).