Holi holi holi!!! Let's play holi!
It is time for one of the most playful festivals I know, a day for you to TROW COLORS.
Waiting for more explanation? I can continue but it's pretty much about that - trowing colors.
- That's it?
- Yes!
Had to be a child creating this one! And I can't believe this festival has been there all along, without me knowing about it...
Oh I wish I knew, I wish I had used more colors... during the grey days, feeling lonely; during the baby blues times, feeling sad; during the long indigo teething nights, feeling helpless; during the disconnected couple disagreements feeling dark, and lost... All the struggles many of us meet from the
#sacredbeginnings ... It is not all easy but WE CAN, let inspiration in and color every moment.
More COLOR. I say we could all use this.
This is the spring festival, the festival of colors, the festival of love...
There are many religious meanings and a few tales behind this festival, but this is my favorite: covered with the colorful powder we all look the same. There are no differences - we are One.
Holi is celebrated as the festival of love because of a myth commemorating Krishna as well: Baby Krishna was, as the story goes, poisoned by a demon, Putana, who tried to kill him with her (not suitable for non-demons I guess tongue emoticon ) breast milk. He survives but his skin was forever blue. As a child Krishna was upset by this and afraid not to be accepted and loved. His mother, bringing playfulness to his struggle, tells him he can color the face of the Gopikas (his girlfriends) in any color he wants to. He goes to Radha and colors her face... Guess what? They fall in love, they become a couple.
This is why... the throwing of the colors celebrates LOVE heart emoticon
Holi celebrations are full of singing and dancing and the free-for-all carnival of colors.
Everyone joins in, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. And it happens everywhere, in the streets, in the parks, outside temples and houses.
I don't know about you but I am fascinated about India and all the levels of significance - many times a secret even to Indians themselves - in each of the
#sacredrituals, each practice, each gesture and tradition.
Holi is no exception, behind the fun and celebration meaning, beyond the religious one, is the health one. Trowing holi powder is, at least used to be, HEALING. Yes! This celebrates the beginning of Spring and it's weather changes can bring allergies or colds. Traditionally the powders used where all made of natural ingredients, selected according to Ayurveda, and full of healing properties! How cool is this?
So if you want use Neem, Kumkum, Haldi, Bilva, and other colorful medicinal herbs you can find.
Use red for fertility, love, and beauty;
Make yellow from natural turmeric, for health and balance;
Share blue to honor Krishna and his playfulness;
Choose green for new beginnings;
Throw purple for... Spiritual growth.
So remember, you don't have to put on a huge celebration with tons of messy colors (but it's fun) to join in. If this is not your thing, or you cannot (specially if you have a newborn) you can still CELEBRATE (I say always celebrate!) go, take some colorful powder and bless it
#createnewfamilytraditions and maybe put a dot on your baby's forehead, on your own, on your partner's, and share the bliss.
Holi is celebrated at the approach of vernal equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon), next 6th of March.
