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Holi

The Holi Festival is a Hindu Spring festival mainly celebrated in India and Nepal and parts of the Western world, which is also known as 'the Festival of Colours' or 'Festival of Love'. The date of the holiday varies, but is usually marked at the end of winter and celebrates the coming of Spring and the playfulness and joy that comes with the warmer months.

Holi is celebrated most popularly as a result of to the story of Prahlada and his father, King Hiranyakashipu; the King forbade Prahlada's attempts to worship Lord Vishnu, and when the little boy refused to let his faith be shaken, the King summoned his sister, Holika, to entice Prahalad into the fire. By divine intervention, Prahlada remained untouched by the fire and instead, Holika perished, signifiying the victory of good over evil.

Because of this, some observe Holi with bonfires; otherwise, the most popular way of celebrating Holi is spending the day smearing friends, family and others with coloured powders and drenching each other with water-guns and water balloons. To add to the merriment, drums and other music are played through the streets and rich food is served in celebration. Sikhs also celebrate Hola Mohalla around this time, which you can read about here.

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