Holi is the festival that marks the beginning of “spring.” What it really marks is the beginning of the HOT season. Indians will tell you they really only has three seasons: Hot, Wet, & Cold (at least where I live). We are transitioning into the Hot season.
Holi lasts for two days. The legend behind Holi is as follows (from what I understand):
Legend says that there once was an evil king whose name was Hiranyakshyap. He had forbidden anyone to worship anyone else but him. His son, Prahlad, went against his father and worshiped Lord Vishnu. Hiranyakshyap had a sister named Holika. She was given a boon not to be harmed by fire. Hiranyakshyap convinced (or demanded) his sister to take Prahlad into a bonfire. (Another version says that Prahlad was asked to put Lord Vishnu to a test and willing sat in the fire with his aunt.) Lord Vishnu saved Prahlad and allowed Holika to die in the fire. One the first day of Holi, people recreate the bonfire and burn large Holika figures in honor of Lord Vishnu saving Prahlad.
On the second day of Holi, people spend the day throwing colored powder and water at each other. It’s supposed to ward off sickness caused by the weather change and commemorate the colors of spring. Lots of children start throwing the colored powdered several days before the actual festival.
In reality, Holi is also the time when people let loose and forget social rules. They party, drink, and get a bit wild. I’ll have to tell you what that looks like later.
