March is an extremely hot month in India and one that manages to dampen everyone’s spirits. That’s why it almost seems like the festival of Holi was placed with the perfect timing!

Traditionally a Hindu festival, but today celebrated by all, Holi is known as the festival of colors. It is celebrated because of a mythological story that tells the tale of a king of demons, who could not be killed “during the day or night, inside home or outside, neither on earth nor in the sky, not by a man or by an animal, and finally neither by a weapon or applied science”. However, his son refused to respect him and that angered the king. He ordered for his son to sit on the lap of his sister Holika (who had been given a boon that she would not be burned by fire) while she sat in a pyre of fire. His son prayed to the Hindu God, Vishnu, and survived, while Holika perished.

And so, to this day, we celebrate the victory of Gods over Demons, by playing Holi!

Image via: Dazib a Oueb

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On this day, people arm themselves with colored powders, water guns, water balloons and even buckets of water! The aim is to get everyone wet and colorful. Children have the most fun, trying to dodge their friends’ attacks with water. You can hear them scream in excitement as they run around playfully!

Image via: fotopedia.com

For adults, Holi is a day of good food, drinks and revelry. People meet with their families and friends outside their houses, usually in a common area or park, apply color on each other faces (and bodies!), greet each other with sweets and spend the afternoon outside. Even though Holi falls in the middle of a hot summer, the celebration with water cools people and allows them to enjoy themselves. These days, residential building societies are even organizing “rain dances” for their residents!

Image via: Run Wiki

Holi is also the day that people indulge in bhaang, a preparation of the leaves and flower buds of the cannabis plant. Instead of drinking alcoholic beverages, many people in India take to bhaang for this one day. It is mixed with a cocktail of milk and dry fruits such as cashews, pistachios and almonds, and is an extremely potent beverage! Interestingly, with so much cannabis in circulation, Holi has always been a safe day, free of any kind of violence.

For those of you who plan to visit India in March, make plans for Holi. The date of celebration is based on the Hindu lunar calendar, so you will have to find out which date it falls on as per the English calendar. This festival is enjoyed more in the north of India, so build your itinerary accordingly. And enjoy a day full of fun and frolic!

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