HOLI- India's EPIC color festival (Indian Festival #1)

Hello Steemers,

Its been quite long since I posted (that is my first line in all my posts I guess). I've been wondering for days about what I could share with you, but since I am not well versed with technical content that trend here, I decide to wait until something interesting came up. Well, what's more interesting than HOLI. 

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This year, Holi will begin tomorrow evening, i.e., 1st March and will end on 2nd March. People across the country will smear each other with colors. The streets will be filled with people running around playfully and the air will be filled with the sound of laughter. People of all age groups will be seen taking part in the festivities without the barriers of caste, creed and religion. For many it is a festive day to love, laugh, play, and repair broken relationships.

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 Holi is celebrated in order to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the end of winter. It is also a thanksgiving for good harvest. It lasts for a day and half starting on the evening of a full moon. The first evening of  Holi is known as Chotti Holi, meaning 'small holi'. The next day is called Rangwali Holi, meaning 'colorful holi'.

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During the Chotti Holi, people light a bonfire and pray for the destruction of their internal evil and ask for forgiveness. Rangwali Holi is a fun filled day where people smear each other with Gulal (colors) and pray for their well-being and prosperity. Younger ones in the family seek blessings from the elders and color their feet. People play with water balloons and water guns. On this day, everyone is fair game and there is no fear of being disrespectful or offending anyone.

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Holi delicacies are known to be mouth-watering.  Puranpoli, dahi-bada and gujia are some of them. Bhaang (marijuana) is a customary drink during Holi. ![image]( After playing all day and sharing joy, people then sober up, get cleaned, dress up and go to visit friends and family for dinner. 

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Earlier, the colors used during Holi were homemade. People used to start preparing them weeks before the festival. They were made from neem, haldi, kumkum, and other traditional herbs prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors in order to build immunity. Then, people moved towards synthetic colors that were easily available in the market. However, now they are realizing the flaws of these colors and an inclination towards organic colors is seen.

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So, this was all about Holi. However, this festival needn't be restricted to India, even you can be a part of it too. Do celebrate Holi this year. All you need to do is grab a few colors and smear it on the ones you love. Do share videos or write a post about your Holi. 

Open the link below and see how we Indians celebrate the festival of colors.

Hope you liked the post. Do comment.

Thank you.

Have a safe and HAPPY HOLI!

XOXO