Happy and colorful Holi!
Holi, the festival of colors, is right around the corner. Mix up some Holi color with your kids with these easy, natural recipes.
Holi is celebrated all over the world — not just in India, but also Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, the Caribbean, South Africa, and the U.S. — anywhere Hindu gods are worshiped or Indians have settled. It is a fun way to welcome the coming of Spring with plenty of Spring colors and because of that, many non-Indian Americans have started participating. In New York City, there’s a parade, the Phagwah Parade- held in Queens that is in its 24th year!
The Holi color fun happens the day after the first full moon in March, glorifying the end of winter, good harvests, and the fertility of the land. You know, all the usual things we like to throw a party for. (From an American point of view: the revelry is not unlike Mardis Gras that just ended in New Orleans, Louisiana – brightly colored, festive, and sometimes a little crazy).
There are multiple stories of the origins of Holi – read one version of the Holi story in the words of my son, but my favorite is the one that tells of the young Krishna and his love Radha:
Young Krishna, a typical, mischievous guy, complained to his mother Yashoda that Radha, his girlfriend, was a lighter skin tone than he was. Yashoda playfully suggested that because Radha had lighter skin, Krishna could put colors on her face to see how her skin would change. Read the rest of this entry »
