My First Holi Celebrations at Home in Three Decades

This will be my first Holi celebration at home with my entire family. Never did I get the chance to celebrate this festival because I was always away, first in boarding school, then caught up in my career.

But now, I am home, with family, and I cannot be happier.

So tomorrow, the house will wake up to the sound of laughter, buckets filled with colored water, and plates loaded with Gujiyas (sweet fried dumplings).

My mother, myself and my sisters have already prepared, while my youngest sisters’ focus is on making sure we have enough colors to turn everyone unrecognizable.

Holi has always been special, but until now, I only heard stories of how it was celebrated back home. Stories of my father and uncles chasing each other with buckets of colored water.

Stories of neighbors gathering, smearing gulaal (colored powder) on each other’s faces, and forgetting past grudges.

This time, I will be part of it…

Like every festival, Holi has its own legends.

The most famous one is about Prahlad and Holika. Prahlad, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu, refused to worship his father, King Hiranyakashipu, who saw himself as a god.

The furious king asked his sister Holika, who had a boon that fire could not burn her, to sit in flames with Prahlad on her lap.

But faith won over arrogance, Holika burned, and Prahlad walked out untouched. That night, Holika Dahan is celebrated, marking the victory of good over evil.

Then there is Krishna and Radha. Lord Krishna, mischievous as ever, was upset about his dark complexion compared to Radha’s fair skin. His mother, Yashoda, playfully suggested he color Radha’s face, and from that moment, Holi became a festival of colors.

While the whole country celebrates Holi, every place has its own unique way of doing it.

In Barsana, the women beat men with sticks in Lathmaar Holi.

Don’t like ads? Become a supporter and enjoy The Good Men Project ad free

In Mathura and Vrindavan, the temples organize weeks-long celebrations with flower Holi, color Holi, and processions where devotees lose themselves in Krishna’s love.

Bengal’s Holi, known as Basanta Utsav, is more graceful, with people dressed in yellow, celebrating with music, poetry, and dance.

Food, of course, is an inseparable part of Holi. Gujiyas, drenched in sugar syrup, are the heart of the festival.

Thandai, mixed with dry fruits and a hint of bhang, makes its way into almost every gathering.

It is believed that bhang, a cannabis-infused drink, was Lord Shiva’s favorite, and so, over time, it became a traditional offering. Whether one enjoys it for spiritual reasons or just for fun, Holi would not feel complete without it.

The best part about Holi is how it makes everyone equal. There are no labels, no hierarchy, just colors, laughter, and joy.

It does not matter if you are old or young, rich or poor; by the end of the day, everyone looks the same, drenched in hues of red, yellow, green, and blue.

This time, I will experience it all. The colors, the madness, the warmth of home.

I know the day will end with everyone exhausted, sitting together, sharing stories, and laughing at how ridiculous we all looked. That is what makes Holi special, not just the colors, but the moments they create.

This will be my first Holi at home, and I cannot wait to experience it the way it is meant to be.

No matter where you are, if you have never truly felt the magic of Holi, come, be a part of it .

—

This post was previously published on medium.com.

***