The Holiday called Holi

If you happen to walk down the street in India this March don't be surprised if you end up covered in a blanket of color. The date for the paint-throwing party in 2004 is March 6th. Though the actual day of the celebration changes from year to year, it is always in March.

Holy Crayola! What a Colorful Day

The holiday Holi is celebrated throughout India, but Northern India goes the craziest on this day. People of all ages are drenched with colors like red, green, yellow, blue, black and silver. You can't walk anywhere without having someone drop colored powder from rooftops or having balloons filled with color burst around you. People dance, sing and shower each other with color wherever you go.

Deck the Halls with Paint for Holi

Preparations for the festivities begin weeks in advance. Houses are painted, beautiful floral designs are drawn on the entrance and everyone loads up on powdered colors and spray guns.

The Origin of Holi

Holi means that spring has arrived and winter has passed. It's also a day to forget all your problems and be happy - having color-bombs explode everywhere makes things pretty cheerful. There are several stories behind the holiday. Basically, they all focus on the triumph of good over evil. One story says that Holika, an evil mythical creature, tried to destroy her nephew, a good god, by attempting to burn him. In the end good wins - she dies and he is saved. The holiday actually starts the night before with a big bonfire to clear away dried leaves and branches from winter - kinda like a big spring clean up.

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Read more: Behind the Holiday