Holi (celebration of spring and bright colors) in India

The end of March heralds not only the beginning of spring, but also brings spiritual rebirth in many cultures and religions While people in the west adhere to strict Holy Week rules, India and Nepal celebrate the colorful festival of Holi The action begins on Purnima, the full moon day according to the Hindu month of Phalguni (February/March) and can last from 2 to 16 days Holi is an official holiday in all states of India, except for a few regions in the extreme south and northeast The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and the coming harvest This is a holiday of flowers, emotions and happiness The central ritual of Holi is the showering of colored powder on friends and family, which gives the holiday its common name "Festival of Colors" or "Festival of Mutual Love" During this period, the country becomes painted in mesmerizing shades of yellow, purple, green, violet and other colors Clouds of flowers dancing in the wind carry a message of love and happiness through walls, neighbors and hearts This day is designed to strengthen or renew relationships, receive the blessings of loved ones, or openly show your affections Participants in the action congratulate all festival visitors on the holiday, while showering their faces and clothes with bright powder For Holi weeks, a special composition is prepared in advance where the substance abir (small papery pieces of mica) is added to it to give a rich shine to the color During the Holi festival, loose powder is sold in every market It can even be mixed with water and filled into balloons with colored liquid for added mischief and fun Each color has its own meaning, religious or otherwise It can personify a certain moment or occasion, symbolize the power of life The white shade carries not only a feeling of purity, but also of mourning Indian widows wear only white clothes Black color is considered ugly and evil here, so it is undesirable to use it Red is the sign of marriage It symbolizes fertility, love, beauty and is a sign of a married woman The color yellow is synonymous with turmeric, an important ingredient in religion It has been revered in Indian medicine since ancient times Other colors that tease the skies on the holiday include blue, the color of the revered god in Hinduism, Lord Krishna Green symbolizes a new beginning, harvest and fertility, and is the sacred color of the Muslim community Saffron is often associated with Hinduism, piety and strength The Flower Festival is a celebration of all ages, representatives of different classes, when barriers are broken and love reigns all around It has long been associated with happiness and the rebirth of soul and body The colors that come with it visually remind everyone of the rebirth of the human spirit and vitality