Holi traditions and colors

Holi traditions differ from city to city in this multi-cultural land. Nowhere have Holi traditions been kept alive like in Mathura, Vrindavan, Nandgaon and Barsana. These are the places where Holi traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. Here, Holi is not only played with the colors of Holi, but also with a joy that is not seen anywhere else.

The most popular and also interesting Holi tradition is Lathmaar Holi in Barsana. Here the women of Barsana give their husbands a hard time when they come to play Holi. Women dominate men, hold them captive, beat them and dress them in feminine clothes. If you are in Haryana, you are free to beat your dewars (brothers-in-law) and take some sweet revenge.

Holi tradition is followed culturally in Shantiniketan in West Bengal. Vishwa Bharti University, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, celebrates Holi with song, dance and flowers. It is known as the Basant Utsav or Spring Festival.

Hola Mohalla is another Holi tradition followed by the Sikh community. It is usually the day after Holi where people gather at Anandpur Sahib to show physical strength. Holi traditions are not only common in North India, but also in Manipur in the northeast, where people celebrate with a dance called ‘Thabal Chongba’.

Holi Colors:

The spirit of Holi resides in its colors. Holi colors, as we all know, are an integral part of the celebration. No holi celebration is complete without Holi colors. Holi colors signify energy, passion, friendship and love. Metaphorically, the colors of Holi signify the change from the boring and monotonous winter of the earth to a colorful and lively spring. Weeks before Holi, the markets are flooded with the colors of Holi: red, pink, yellow, gold, green, purple, blue, etc. In ancient times, Holi colors were made from flowers of the Tesu tree. The flowers were first dried and then ground into a fine mixture and enough water added to give a saffron color.

The markets are full of chemical dyes but these days many people refrain from using these harmful chemicals in urban cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata the use of natural dyes has increased. Natural Holi colors are not only safe, but also easy to do. You can even make them at home using simple household ingredients like henna powder for the green color, hibiscus for the red color, and turmeric powder for the yellow color. Play a safe and happy festival of colors.