Ever been to the Color Run, a 5k held in many locations where color is thrown on the runners? This practice comes from a holiday called Holi, which is a Hindu Spring festival celebrating a story that is taken from the ancient religion of Hindu, Vaishnavism. The holiday is also known as the Festival of Colors, or Phagwah.
In the story is the king of demons, Hiranyakashipu, who wanted people to worship him instead of their god Vishnu. Brahma had granted the king of demons a boon (“In some religions and mythologies, a boon is a favor given by a deity or other supernatural being to one of his/her followers; this is similar to a blessing.” - wikipedia), which kept him from being killed. Because of this, he became arrogant and decided he should be worshipped. He attacked the Earth and the Heavens. His own son, Prahlada, worshipped Vishnu (the god of Preservation), and Hiranyakashipu poisoned him. It didn’t work, and the king of demons continued to attempt to kill his son; nothing worked. Finally, the demon king had his son sit on his demoness sister’s lap (she also had a boon, preventing her death), and be burned. The sister, Holika, died while the son lived. This is why the holiday is celebrated, because Holika was burned and Prahlada was saved.
The practice of throwing color on other people’s faces comes from Krishna, who was thought traditionally to have been jealous when he was young of Radha’s fair complexion. He put color on Radha’s face out of mischief, and this tradition has been practiced ever since.
The holiday of Holi falls in February or March; in 2013, the holiday occurred on March 27. It is celebrated in India, Nepal, and in other countries by Hindus. These include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, the US, and others. In Mathura, this festival is celebrated for 16 days because it is where Krishna lived.
Of course, Holi is not only celebrated because of the myth. It is also a celebration of Spring and the harvest season. The way people celebrate is to have a bonfire and throw colored powder at one another (like in the color run). They also throw scented powder and perfume. The bonfire is held to commemorate the fire in which Prahlada was saved; the bonfires are thought to burn evil spirits. The celebration ends with Rangapanchami, which occurs a few days later. Another interesting thing about this holiday is that it throws off social norms, for the most part. Age, race, caste, gender, and economic status are overlooked, and everyone celebrates together, which makes for a holiday filled with joy and excitement.
There are many rituals associated with Holi, including playing with cow dung cakes, throwing water, and smearing colored powder on others’ faces. Hindus also worship the ash from the burnt dung cakes and wood, and and sing, dance and play instruments throughout the night. In Western India, boys try to break a pot of buttermilk hung higher than they can reach by building human pyramids, and the girls throw colored water at them to try to stop them. These pranks resemble the pranks of Krishna. People also try to steal butter from homes.
Many of the “colors” used at the festival are natural, and are made at home, coming from plants and other sources in nature. Many of these help save the environment and are not only safer for skin, but actually are beneficial, even therapeutic. They used to be made with natural medicines to counter colds and other sickness brought on by the change of season.
The holiday of Holi celebrates something familiar with all people - when good triumphs over evil.
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