Happy Holi!

Hi guys! I’m so sorry this is very late AND that I’ve not posted in absolute ages, but my schedule’s crazy busy at the minute (I hear a rant- post coming on) , so I hope you can forgive me! Anyways, on with Holi!

Holi is known as the ‘Festival of Colours’ and is one of the biggest events in the Indian calendar. It is a favourite amongst kids as a major part of the festival involves throwing dry coloured powder at each other alongside water balloons! This is how the festival gets its name: by the end of the celebrations, everyone looks like a the broadest spectrum of colours! 

But after the initial ‘party’ is over, everyone calms down and cleans up for the puja ceremonies and a big gathering of friends and family. In the party, there are also dry colours used but they are more for significance over anything else. The house is decorated with Rangoli, an intricate pattern formed from powdered colours. These are extremely complicated to make, and take lots of skill and practice. Typically, Rangoli are placed in verandahs, patios, gardens or at corners of a room.

As in all Indian festivals, the food is very elaborate and complicated and a party at a house hosting about 5/7 different families would have over 30 dishes. This food is almost always all homemade, so the guests sometimes lend a helping hand and bring along one of the dishes from their house. After all that slaving away, the food is finally served. Because of the delicious elements and combinations present at this feast for the senses, everyone tends to have second or even third helpings and it is safe to say all the food will be devoured within 10/20 minutes! The poor cooks: Hours of hard work all disappeared in such a short period of time.

Despite all these amazing festivities, Holi is actually about the good winning over evil.It is similar to Easter and represents the end of winter and the start of spring, new beginnings, and much more. It really is an amazing festival, and all that’s left to do is wish you and your family a very happy and prosperous Holi!