The origin of the festival

Like many celebrations in India, Holi has its origins in Hindu mythology. Legend has it that King
Hiranyakashipu ruled as a despot, stirring up trouble around him. Proud and arrogant, he
demanded that everyone prostrate themselves at his feet. Unfortunately for him, his own son
Prahlad refused and preferred another god.

The king wanted to get rid of his son. He tried several times to kill him but in vain. He then asked
for help from his sister Holika, who had the special gift of not being afraid of fire. The king
challenged his son to lie down in the flames with his aunt. Prahlad accepted and triumphed.
Holika was punished for her vanity while Prahlad was saved and rewarded by the gods for his
loyalty and devotion. From this story, Holi is said to have originated as a symbol of the victory of
good over evil, fertility and the arrival of spring.

“Sprinkling” of colours
Several days before Holi, Indians start gathering wood to light the great fire called Holika. During
festival, huge bonfires are lit in every city in India. These fires symbolise the destruction of evil.
The embers are then collected by the inhabitants who take them home and use them to light a
new fire.

The day of festivities is called “Dhuletti”. This is when the festival of colours takes on its full
meaning. In the days leading up to it, everyone stocks up on colour ammunition - balloons filled
with coloured water and tinted powder. On the day, be prepared to spray your friends, family, or
complete strangers in the street.
The colours used each have a particular meaning: green represents harmony, orange optimism,
blue vitality and red joy and love.

In the evening, when it is quiet, people visit their relatives and friends. This is a time for
exchanging greetings and gifts. Families then share a hearty meal and stay up late into the night.

Expect to be covered in colour, as tourists are a target. Be careful what you wear, as the mixture
of powder and water creates a kind of indelible mud. It's hard to remove your clothes after Holi!

The others benefit

From the North to the South of India - and even in Indian communities abroad, Hindus and non-
Hindus meet to celebrate Holi. This festival has a symbolic dimension because for a few days
social barriers fall and men and women are equal, and it celebrate the arrival of spring.

Holi is also appreciated for its "medical" virtues. Indeed, the Indians, supported by the theories
of biologists, believe in the purifying action of the coloring used in the paint. The contact
between the coloring and the skin would have the effect of reinforcing the natural defenses of
the body.