Known as the “Festival of Color”, Holi is a major Indian festival that takes place every March to celebrate the start of Spring. This celebration is all about spreading joy through color and having fun with your loved ones. The holiday has a mythological connection to a story of Holika and Prahlad.     

  

The egoistic king Hiranyakashyap demanded everyone in his kingdom to worship him. The king's son, Prahlad, did not worship his father but instead, he worshipped the god Vishnu. Incredibly angered by his son's disloyalty, Hiranyakashyap made several attempts to kill his son but each time, Vishnu saved him. Finally, the king turned to his evil sister, Holika. Since she could not be hurt by fire, Holika took Prahlad in her lap and entered a blazing fire. As a consequence of her evil intentions, the gods took away Holika's magic power and she burned away. Prahlad emerged from the fire unscathed, blessed for his devotion to Vishnu. The name, Holi, derives from Holika, and is a festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil.

During the Holi celebration, applying color to the faces of your loved ones is a way to show your affection. The vibrant colors and joyous music creates a sense of social harmony and helps spread positive vibes, creating a loving environment to enjoy with friends and family. In the US, color runs and other paint-throwing events keep the Holi spirit alive by bringing people together and spreading good vibes with beautiful color. This year Holi falls on March 20th, the Spring Equinox, so mark your calendar and get ready to celebrate!