Treading Lightly: Holi Special

Holi, the colorful festival of spring, is celebrated in the month of March in India. It is a festival to let your hair down and eat, drink, make merry and welcome the season of spring. Eating lots of sweets, various delicatessens and drinking of bhang (a traditional intoxicant made during holi) are part of the festivities. The festival is celebrated on the full-moon day of Phalguna in North India, while it is stretched up to a week in some parts of North and Northeast India.

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According to the traditions of Holi, on the evening before people gather around a bonfire made of dead leaves, twigs and wooden sticks, They dance and sing around the fire to welcome the season of spring. This also commemorates the ancient legend of 'The saving of Prahlad', a mythical character and burning of his wicked aunt Holika. People take embers from this holy fire to kindle their own domestic fires. In some communities, barley seeds are roasted in the fire to eat. It is believed that the yield of the upcoming harvest season can be predicted by reading the direction of the flames or the state of the roasted barley seeds.

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The next morning or the day of holi is known as 'Dhuledi' or the main festival of colors, when both children and adults smear colored powder on each other and splash water jets known as 'pichkaris'. Traditionally, only natural colors prepared from flowers and herbal products were used. However, today, artificial colors hare also used. The color frenzy of oranges and reds, greens and blues and purples are known to wash away any enmity and hatred and this serves to bring the community closer.

Image taken by Himali Singh Soin

Mouthwatering sweets and delicacies form an important part of the festival. One can relish on a wide variety of lip-smacking sweets, the most prominent being 'Gujias' (in Northern India) and 'Puran Poli' (in Maharashtra). 'Thandai' (a cool drink made by mixing almonds, spices with chilled milk and sugar) is mixed with 'bhang' (an intoxicating substance that creates an alcoholic effect) is served during Holi, as a part of its customs.