Holi is a spring festival also known as the festival of colours or the festival of love. Holi festival takes place over several days. Some quoting as many days as fifteen. However it’s only the last day that is observed by all with colours. Phagu is another name for Holi where Phagu means the sacred red powder and Pune is the full moon day, on which the festival ends. People can be seen wandering through the streets either on foot or on some vehicle, with a variety of colours smeared over them. Though for most people they will only notice the final few days running up to the main day itself.Up in the remoter villages preparations are made, food cooked and various rituals performed in the weeks beforehand. The first real noticeable difference I saw was that three days before Holi itself there is a tradition of throwing un-dyed water at women on the streets (I’ll come back to that one). Then, two days later it’s colored water and dye throwing at everyone all morning on Holi day itself. As you can imagine it’s a huge thrill for children as they prepare buckets of dye and fill up balloons and bags of little water grenades. Many even purchasing giant water pistols to let loose on their neighbors. Young and old enjoy the brightly colored festival as they wash away the winter and celebrate the incoming spring. Personally, I’ve never seen so many happy smiles at any other festival.
