 |
Holi
- More Customs And Traditions
The Colors of Holi: Later, as Krishna grew up, the play assumed a new dimension. It added more colors to Krishna's legendary love life. The legend of Krishna's love for Radha, his pranks with the 'Gopi's (milkmaids), the way he celebrated the festival of spring gradually turned tradition into a community festival of the masses. As time passed, the culture spread to other regions of the country. The Holi play of Krishna is documented in hundreds of ancient paintings, murals, sculptures and scriptures found across the subcontinent.
Get the Color on you ! : Squirting colored water, smearing all your pals with colored powder and tossing handfuls of color-red, green, blue, pink or whatever imaginable-is the most popular tradition of the Holi festival. Splashing colors will be the order of the morning and any offence caused to anyone is washed away in the extending of colored hands as an offer of peace ! Traditionally only natural colors sourced from flowers and plants were used, but artificial colors rule today.
Rangoli: The beautiful, intricate, myriad patterns made from colored rice powder or sand adorn the entrances to everyone's houses on the day of Holi. Traditionally made by unmarried girls, Holi is an occasion for all the household women to dip their fingers into making these striking patterns.
Food and Drink: Traditionally, any festival in India will get everyone going, preparing an awesome array of sweets and savories, and Holi is no exception. From syrupy 'Jalebi's to all the tastiest varieties of 'laddoo's, you'll be spoilt for choice if you have a sweet tooth ! Then, if the beat of the drums and the music isn't intoxicating enough there are the inevitable 'bhang' preparations to give you a high on Holi !
Visiting: Traditionally, everyone visits everyone else to wish each other "Happy Holi" and to distribute sweets. So be prepared to go places on Holi…
Gift giving: Tray-loads of sweets are prepared every Holi, to be distributed to near and dear ones, friends and relations. Blessings are exchanged and the 'abeer' (colored powder) is used to anoint the feet of elders or the forehead of a younger person. Various gifts are also exchanged, ranging from puja 'thali's to teddies and chocolates !
Click
Here For Holi Information Home
|
