Irene Turner "Little Bits of Beauty™"

Continuing along the theme of feasting your eyes on color, here’s a look at Holi.

image courtesy of Poras Chaudhary-click on photo to see more of his work!

The festival of Holi officially ushers in spring, the celebrated season of LOVE!  Holi is a festival of radiance. During this festival, waves of radiance travel throughout the universe, creating various colors that nourish and support the elements.  Which is why this holiday inspires me!  I believe that color is one of the major influence in the Energetics of Space™, spreading the message of the colors we chose throughout our world!   

Holi, otherwise known as the Festival of Colors, traditionally takes place in India.  Originally, Holi celebrated the season of good harvests, however, over the years, Holi came to be symbolically associated with a legend from a Hindu Mythology…The legend has it that a demon king Hiranyakashipu in order to kill his pious son Prahlada made a request to his sister Holika to sit with the boy in a blazing pyre. Holika, apparently had received a boon, whereby, she could emerge from the fire unscathed. However, prince Prahlada devotion’s to Lord Vishnu saved him from the blazing fire, while his aunt was reduced to ashes. Holi commemorates the victory of good over evil and huge bonfires are lit on the street corners on eve of Holi (or the night of the March full moon) as a symbolic gesture.

The fun-filled, energetic festival also speaks of the perpetual love of Krishna and Radha.  As a result, the festival is celebrated over a period of 16 days in Vrindavan and Mathura. There it is known as Lathmaar Holi.  Apart from the usual fun with coloured powder and water, Holi is marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and a general sense of abandonment.

image courtesy of Poras Chaudhary-click on image to see more of his fabulous work

Today Holi is an excuse for Indians to shed inhibitions and caste differences for a day of spring fever and fun. Teenagers spend the day flirting and misbehaving in the streets, adults extend the hand of peace, and everyone chases everyone else around, throwing brightly colored powder (gulal) and water over each other.  These magnificent colors signify the blossoms of the season.

With winter neatly tucked up in the attic, Holi is a time to come out of our cocoons and enjoy spring.  So celebrate with wild abandonment and glorious color!  Shout with JOY…

^{HOLI HAI!}