Holi: An Indian Festive Gala of Joy and Colours.

Holi is an ancient Hindu festival of colours and joy which shows up at the onset of a new season, a blossoming of eternal love. It marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring. In this article Srishti shares memories of her favourite Holi in Glasgow and what the festival symbolises.

By Srishti Jain

Today I’m reminiscing on the day when I celebrated my best ever Holi in Glasgow, two years ago. 

My friends and I had the time of our lives. We were brimming with excitement and looking forward to celebrating the culturally significant festival of colours, dance, music and good food. 

A few weeks before the festival, students from the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow performed a dance flash mob to fun Bollywood Holi tunes like Balam Pichkari, Rang Barse. The performance at Rottenrow Gardens got us loud hoots celebrating the true spirit of the day which is about fostering bonds amid all diversity. 

A sunny but breezy day in Glasgow became the most memorable for us as we smeared each other with shades of pink, green, yellow and blue experiencing the human spirit and celebrating the festival with joy and laughter.

But what is Holi really about?
Holi, a two-day festival, is celebrated on the last night of the full moon of the Hindu lunisolar calendar that follows until the next afternoon and is at the heart of captivating tales of Hindu mythology. 

One such legend is the story of Prahlad and Hiranyakashipu, signifying the triumph of good over evil and the bonfires of Holika Dahan symbolise the victory of light over darkness. Another endearing tale is of the mischief of the Hindu deity, Lord Krishna and how Radha is charmed by his playfulness marks their beautiful connection of love and togetherness. 

This festival is a tapestry of myths, legends and traditions, in which people join together to embrace love and righteousness. It is also believed to have strong roots in agricultural practices where every year farmers pray for a healthy harvest and perform rituals to ensure good fertility throughout the year. Hence, it represents the vibrant blooms of the spring season and the renewal of life in nature.

How is Holi celebrated in Glasgow?

Holi is an ancient Hindu festival of colours and joy which shows up at the onset of a new season, a blossoming of eternal love. It marks the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Some believe that the origins of powdered colour come from the story of the tale of Krishna falling in love with Radha, a milkmaid. Krishna felt shy because his skin was dark blue while Radha's was fair. So, during a playful game with Radha and the other milkmaids, Krishna playfully splashed colours on Radha's face to make their skin tones match. This playful act is believed to be where the tradition of throwing coloured water and powder originates from. The joyful atmosphere during Holi also reflects Krishna's mischievous nature,

On the day you will see people indulging in a playful day throwing water balloons, throwing powder paint, smearing each other with colours, dancing and music. The celebration goes beyond religious boundaries and nationwide, uniting diverse backgrounds for a blast of revelry. During this time there are festivities in different parts of India, particularly in the northern states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

In Glasgow, vibrant celebrations took place in the West End. Smokes of colour were waved around and celebrants were doused with neon powders. There was no shortage of laughter and music as people danced the afternoon away marking the beginning of Spring and good fortune.