Holi - Festival of Colors

A Blog of Mini-Series “Celebrations of Light, Fire, Water, and Colors Around the Globe”

I’ve always loved celebrating Holi at school. In the morning, we eagerly follow the teachers' instructions and arrive in old T-shirts, ready to embrace the colorful chaos that awaits. As I step out of my front door, a sense of liberation washes over me, knowing that by the day's end, my clothing will bear the kaleidoscope of vibrant stains, effectively masking any traces of food, snacks, or marker mishaps.

The celebration typically is organized during the final period of the school day. Heading outside excitedly to the assembly ground, we run to embrace the colors. Students come together from all directions, forming a big circle. Laughter and shouts of delight fill the air as we plash each other with colored powder and water.

What captivates me most about Holi is the brilliant neon hue of the colored powders known as gulal. The flying fine pigments intermingle in the air to create a delicate, powdery mist of colorful palette. Suspended in the sky like a vibrant drawing, the multicolored tableau swiftly disperses, vanishing into the ground. These colors hold deep cultural significance, with red symbolizing love, fertility, and matrimony—familiar cultural themes to me as they are celebrated in China. Blue represents Krishna, while green signifies new beginnings. In the past, gulal was crafted from natural materials, including flowers and spices like the vibrant Indian coral tree, offering not only vivid dyes but also skin-friendly, medicinal benefits. In modern times, synthetic dyes have largely replaced these traditional sources in the production of gulal for Holi.

Holi, known as the Festival of Colors, is a springtime celebration of love, renewal, and the arrival of spring. It is becoming increasingly popular and being celebrated in both Hindu and non-Hindu communities. Holi is probably one the most exuberant cultural festivals, a time when no excuse is needed to throw colored water at friends or strangers. Holi marks the full-moon day of the Hindu month of Phalguna, usually falling in the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. Beneath the colorful and festive chaos lies distinct and deep-seated cultural traditions.

Two prominent legends are associated with Holi, narrating the history behind its origins and rituals. The first recounts the enduring love story of Lord Krishna and Radha. In the region of Braj where Lord Krishna grew up, Holi is celebrated with great fervor. As the legend goes, Krishna fell in love with the milkmaid Radha. After being cursed with blue skin by a demon, Krishna was embarrassed and worried that the fair-skinned Radha would no longer love him. Trying to remedy the situation, he playfully painted her face during a game which is believed to have laid the foundation for the tradition of smearing colored powder during Holi.

The second tale signifies the triumph of good over evil. Rooted in Indian mythology, it narrates the story of a cruel demon king named Hiranyakashipu. He demanded that all in his realm worship him as God. His son, Prahlada, however, was a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu. Enraged by his son’s disobedience, the king conspired with his sister Holika to kill Prahlada. Holika possessed an immunity to fire and deceived Prahlada into sitting with her on a pyre. However, her sinister intent led to her downfall as she lost her fire-resistant power and perished in the flames. Miraculously, Prahlada emerged unscathed and prevailed. Later on, Lord Vishnu vanquished Hiranyakashipu and Prahlada became the king. This is why the first day of Holi is celebrated as Holika Dahan.

Holi spans a night and a day, starting on the evening of Holika Dahan, marked by grand bonfires and observance of prayers. People come together to sing, relish sweets, and partake in dancing to the traditional folk music. The second day of Holi, known as Rangwali Holi, is characterized by the tossing of powdered dyes and the playful spraying of water. Children, in particular, practice their aim and enjoy games involving gulal and water balloons filled with colorful solutions.

Gujiya, a special treat, is cherished by families across India during Holi. These are dumplings that are filled with khoya, a rich dairy product, along with an assortment of dried fruits and nuts, including pistachios, coconut, and raisins. To mark this festive occasion, some people indulge in thandai, a milky beverage infused with a blend of bhang (marijuana) derived from the paste of buds and leaves of the cannabis. Consumed for over 3,000 years, the elixir is believed to possess a mythical connection to the revered monk god Shiva.

Recipe of Gujiya

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour

• For Filling

  • 1/3 cup khoya

  • 1/4 tablespoon green cardamom

  • 1 1/4 tablespoon semolina

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 1/2 tablespoon almonds

• For Dough

  • 1/3 cup ghee

  • 1/3 cup water

Making Gujiya

·     Mix all-purpose flour and water to make a soft dough. To accentuate the taste of this traditional recipe, add some ghee into the dough.

·     To make the dough soft, knead by sprinkling some water. Once the dough reaches the desired consistency, let it stand for an hour.

·     Take a deep-fry pan, sauté khoya and semolina till it turns golden and keep it aside to cool.

·     Prepare the filling for Gujiya: Add sugar, green cardamom, and soaked almonds to the cooled khoya and mix well. Add some dry roasted nuts and raisins for a nice crunch.

·     Prepare puris and fill them with the stuffing: Make small round balls from the dough and make a cup-like space in the balls to fill with the stuffing. Seal corners and roll the sides to your choice of pattern.

·     Deep fry the Gujiya: Heat ghee in a pan over medium flame. Fry the Gujiyas till golden brown and serve with some thandai and spicy pakoras. Garnish it with some saffron strands and crushed pistachios.

·     Enjoy!