MASALA MANGO MANTRA is a canadian blog uniting artists, designs, decor, fashion, food from around the globe and that which is beautiful and sometimes Indian inspired by design

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Holi- The Indian Festival of Colors


Gujjia (an Indian sweet) and colored powders for Holi- the Festival of colors
Image courtesy: Cannikon
Holi is an Indian festival of colors and will be celebrated  this year on  March 20, 2011. This festival is celebrated by Hindus and is celebrated on the full moon day in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun.  This festival marks the arrival of spring and the bright colors are a display of life, energy and happiness.
A day before this festival, bonfires known as Holika Dahan  are lit in memory of the escape of a young Prince Prahlad, when a demoness Holika, a sister of demon Hiranyakashipu tried to burn him alive. Holika got burned,but Prince Prahlad  escaped unhurt because of his devotion to Lord Vishnu. So on the eve of Holi, people light huge bonfires to signify good over evil.
On this day,   people smear each other with colored powders,  throw colourful water on each other using squirt guns known in India, as pichkaaris and enjoy eating sweets like gujjia.  In India, children and adults go on colorful and vibrant processions as they go dancing and singing "HOLI HAI".













2 comments :

  1. I love Indian food. I'm always a little scared to cook it but never to eat it

    ReplyDelete
  2. During Holi, practices, which at other times could be offensive, are allowed. Squirting colored water on passers-by, dunking friends in mud pool amidst teasing and laughter, getting intoxicated on bhaang and reveling with companions is perfectly acceptable.

    ReplyDelete

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