Festivals make our lives colorful and Holi especially brings color to our lives. Popularly known as the festival of colors, Holi is a festival of joy and enthusiasm, which builds an atmosphere of brotherhood. Celebrate coming Holi festival by sharing the colors of Magic Holidays, with someone whom you love from the bottom of your heart.
In different places Holi is celebrated with different names, in Nepal it is called ‘Phagu’. In Kerala it is locally called Ukkuli in Konkani or Manjal Kuli in Malayalam. In Maharashtra, Holi is mainly associated with the burning of Holika. A bonfire is lit in the main squares of the villages and colonies. People gather around the bonfire and celebrate the event with singing and dancing, which is symbolic of the victory of good over evil. In Gujarat also bonfire is lit in the central places of the villages or towns. People gather around the bonfire and celebrate the event with singing and dancing. The number of days of celebrating holi range from two days to six days. The places like Mathura and Vrindavan are popular for the celebrations of Holi and attract tourists from other countries also.
But present day Holi is different from its original concept. In the major Indian cities Holi has become the favorite festival of the young generation. The two days holiday is mostly utilized having fun and frolic. The day next to holi which in many places called rangapanchami is the feast for the youth. Whole day is enjoyed in getting colored with the colors of Holi. Holi is best celebrated in many residential societies, in the form of social get together. Members of all ages spend the day happily together, nicely coloring each other consuming the special drink of the day called Bhang along with sweets and snacks. Even in some of the societies color is prepared in tanks and the participants are literally dipped in them. Further some entertainment games are also arranged to add to the fun of the day.
Let us have brief information about the traditional Holi celebrations, still observed in some places of India. Traditional Holi supposed to be celebrated in the spring season, during which the weather changes abruptly causing viral fever. In order to counter the spreading of the illness, colored powders composed of Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, and Bilva are supposed to be thrown on each other. A special drink called Thandai made of almonds, pistachios, rose petals and Bhang is prepared and distributed to the Holi celebrators. The wet colors are supposed to be traditional flowers of Palash, boiled and soaked in water to produce yellow color having medicinal qualities. Unfortunately we are moving away from the ethics of the festival, by commercializing the festival using synthetic colors which may prove to be toxic and harmful to the skin and eyes. Try to enjoy your coming Holi with natural colors, making it an eco friendly celebration.
So what are you thinking of, color your special persons coming Holi festival with the colors of Magic Holidays and make his/her future vacations truly memorable.
