Holi - India's festival of colours

Holi is a celebration of colours. Generously dousing themselves and others in colored powder, people celebrate it to welcome spring and show thanks for good harvests. It is celebrated on the last full moon in February or March especially in the north, west and eastern parts of the country.

Holi is also a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. On the eve of the celebration, a huge bonfire is lit and people sing and dance around it. The fire is symbolic of the destruction of evil demons in Hindu mythology. Environmentalists, however, are not pleased about the fires.

In Barsana, a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, sticks are used in Holi celebrations. The men sing songs to provoke the women. And the women charge at the men playfully with the sticks and pretend to hit them.

Mathura, a city in North India which is famous as the mythical birthplace of Lord Krishna, Holi is celebrated for 16 days. The beginning of the festival is marked with religious offerings to the Hindu god Lord Krishna. After that, the devotees celebrate the festival singing songs about Lord Krishna and his beloved Radha.

Men, women and children, young and old - everyone in India comes together to celebrate Holi. People visit friends and relatives and smear each other with colorful powders. People enjoy a feast of sweets and snacks. In many parts of the country, adults drink bhang, an intoxicating drink made from the leaves and flowers buds of the cannabis plant mixed with milk.

In northern India, in the Kumaon district, folk songs are sung to the beats of the dhol, an Indian drum. Men and women wear colourful traditional attire. In the state of Rajasthan, there is another old tradition: People there sing songs full of wild and off-colour swear words.

The colored powder used in Holi was originally made out of leaves, flower buds and spice plants such as turmeric and saffron. Today, the powder is mostly made out of chemicals which can cause skin allergies. It is often mixed with water in balloons, which are favorites especially among children.

Holi is not only celebrated in India. Indian migrants to countries like the US, UK, Canada or Australia celebrate it in their adopted countries like at home. Germany has organized a big event for it for the past few years now and it is not only fun for Indians but something fun and new for German youth as well.