The Trend of Holi Colours – Natural to Synthetic to Organic

Abeer and Gulal are the names for traditional and naturally made Holi colours. People also play with coloured water using pichkaris and other squirt guns on Badi Holi or Dhulendi. This coloured water is prepared using Tesu flowers.

The process of making natural colours involves gathering flowers from trees, grinding them, and mixing them with water to produce orange-yellow Holi water colour. Abeer is made from natural coloured talc and has always been very popular as a Holi colour. Another traditional Holi object now rarely seen is a red powder filled in Lakh bowls which are broken to spread colour on everyone. Since the past few years, all of us had lost touch with natural colours and synthetic or artificial colours are being increasingly used on Holi.

Naturally made colours like abeer and gulal have been in use since people started playing Holi. These colours have been understood to be safe for skin and for general health of a person. In the recent times though, there had begun a trend for using synthetic colours which were also more permanent. These colours were also harmful for use.

The recent trend has made people choose naturally made organic Holi colours. Now most people are adopting safe and alternative organic colours to have fun on Holi.

The Stories Of Holi Festival

The traditions that we regard as being naturally associated with Holi have a long history behind them. Some of the more popular ones are,

Legends Behind Holi Bonfire – Holika Dahan
Most of us would have read or heard of the association of the legend of Holika with Holi. This is particularly true of the tradition of the Holi bonfire which takes place the evening before the play of colours. Holika Dahan or Holikotsav has a direct relationship with this very famous legend.

Once upon a time, there was a demon king named Hiranyakashyap who had won all the three worlds of heaven, earth and hell and had thus, become very proud. He had beome overconfident and vain because of his powers so much so that he believed that he could defeat even Lord Vishnu. This evil king had ordered everyone in his kingdom to worship him above any god. He could not though influence his own son, Prahlad, who was a worshipper of Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakashyap tried to get his son killed and was unsuccessful every time. Finally, he asked his sister Holika to help him. Holika had a very special power. She was immune to fire. The king ordered that his son be made to sit with Holika in a bonfire. In the end though, Prahlad who by then was known as Bhakt Prahlad (Devotee Prahlad) came away unhurt whereas Holika was consumed by the fire.

Legend Behind Holi Colours
As with Holika Dahan, the story behind Holi colours is connected to another of Lord Vishnu's avatars, Krishna. Legend has it that Lord Krishna was not too happy with the fact that whereas Radha was fair complexioned, he himself was very dark. Krishna questioned his mother about this injustice. To make her son happy, Yashoda suggested that Krishna apply colour on Radha's face and change her complexion. Krishna was also understood to have played with milkmaids (gopis) by throwing colour and water on them. It was thus that the game of applying colours gained popularity and became a part of Holi traditions. Even now, the application of colours is also an expression of love.

More on Regional Holi Celebrations in India

In continuation to the last post, here are some more of the regional Holi celebrations across India.

Lathmaar Holi
The birthplace of Krishna and the place where Holi originated has a very interesting version to Holi celebrations. It is basically a play of genders between the men and womenfolk of Barsana and Nandgaon. Men are supposed to throw colours on women and to get a good beating in return.

Hola Mohalla
Hola Mohalla is actually an annual fair that is organised in a large scale at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab on the day following the festival of Holi. A number of durbars are also held where Sri Guru Granth Sahib is present and kirtan and religious lectures take place.

Shimgo
In the Konkan region of our country (Goa and parts of coastal Maharashtra), Holi is known as Shimgo. People play with Holi colours, send Holi gifts and prepare the dish of rich, spicy chicken or mutton curry called shagoti with sweets. Colourful dance drama processions are also carried out in Panjim, the Goan capital.

Phagu Purnima or Phagwa
Another name of Holi is Phagu Purnima. Phagu is a sacred red powder and purnima is the full moon day, on which this festival ends. In some parts of UP and in Bihar, people celebrate this spring festival as Phagwa and Holika Dahan is known as Samvatsar Dahan.

Traditions of Holi 2010

Holi is a festival that speaks of trust, love and goodwill. This is probably the reason that all its traditions are also representative of this feeling of brotherhood and the victory of good over evil.

Holi Milans or Baithaks
Many days or sometimes weeks before the actual Holi-day, people sit together and sing Holi songs in Holi milans. Hori are the special type of Holi folk songs which are also sung in these musicals.

Holi Bonfires
Holika Dahan or the lighting of bonfire takes place on the eve of Holi. The day is also popularly called Chhoti Holi or Small Holi.

Songs and Dance
This festival of colours is played in most parts of the country. Apart from the usual tradition of playing with coloured powder and water, Holi also involves fun filled processions of folk songs and dances.

Exchanging Gifts
There is a popular tradition of greeting each other with Holi gifts like Holi colours and traditional Indian sweets like Gujiya, Gazak, Mathri, Malpuas and Dry fruits on Holi.

Bhang ki Thandai and Sweets
Making and drinking bhang ki thandai (an Indian milk shake) is another very popular custom of Holi. Bhang is made from female cannabis or hemp plant, it can be understood to be a homemade drug. People also mix bhang in sweets and other preparations being offered to guests.

Holi Colours
Abeer and Gulal are the names for Holi colours. These are the traditional and naturally made Holi colours. People also play with coloured water using pichkaris and other squirt guns on Badi Holi or Dhulendi.

This year all of us will be celebrating Holi on 1st March 2010.