With winter coming to a long-awaited end, we’re all super ready to come out of hibernation mode and welcome the warmer weather with something fun and new. Celebrating the Hindu festival of Holi is a great way to mark the transition of the seasons while also learning about another culture with your family and friends! It’s a holiday rich with tradition and meaning, and also includes lots of fun activities for little ones and amazing food for all. Gather your pod outdoors or set up a virtual celebration with loved ones, and ring in spring with Holi, the festival of colors.
What is Holi?
If you’ve seen photos of Holi celebrations around the world, you’re probably familiar with the clouds of colorful powder and big crowds cheerfully dousing each other with water and dye. This part of the festival is no doubt the most photogenic, but there’s much more to Holi than making a big, colorful mess.
The two-day festival marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring by celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Holi brings together people from every walk of life. The spirit of Holi is all about optimism, new beginnings, and celebrating together–regardless of social hierarchies, boundaries or barriers. On Holi, everyone is equal.
How can we celebrate Holi at home?
The first evening of Holi, called Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi, is celebrated with a bonfire to signify the legend of Pradhala–a prince in Hindu mythology who became immune to fire when he triumphed over the evil Halika. Neighbors and friends gather to pray and sing around the fire, marking the end of winter and darkness, and the return of light and goodness. If you have a safe place to set up a campfire, recreate this festive outdoor activity at home. Add video chat to your invitation so family and friends far away can join virtually. You can also coordinate lighting a candle over video chat to mark Holika and say “good riddance” to winter.
The second day of Holi, called Rangwali Holi or Badi Holi, is when the party starts! This is when revelers gather outside to throw colorful powder (or gulal) on one another, sing and dance to street music, and enjoy food and drinks with neighbors. The throwing of color is a tribute to the blue-skinned Hindu god Krishna. After a break to clean up all the color, people traditionally dress up to visit friends and family. The celebration continues with a big group dinner.
Celebrating this part of Holi should be fun! Buy non-toxic paints and colored powder (or make your own). Fill water balloons with colored water if the weather is warm enough. Then, gather family, friends, or neighbors in an outdoor space like your yard or a neighborhood park, and let loose!
After the activities, end the day by trying your hand at making gujiya, a kind of special Holi dumpling. If cooking isn’t your thing, patronize your favorite local Indian or Southeast Asian restaurant for a takeout feast. For a virtual gathering, set up a dinner party and enjoy your meal together online while making plans for spring.
Send Your Holi Invitations
This year, Holi begins on Sunday, March 28, 2021, and ends the next day, March 29, 2021. Send one of our bright and colorful Holi invitations to get your friends and family excited for the festival, whether you’re celebrating responsibly outdoors or virtually from home.
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