Holi is a spring festival, also known as the festival of colours
or the festival of love. It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has
become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities
outside Asia. The festival has, in recent times, spread to parts of Europe and North
America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colours.
Holi celebrations start with a Holika bonfire on the night before Holi where people gather, sing and dance. The next
morning is a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase
and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying
water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor,
man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in
the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums
and musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance.
